Lion dies of suspected coronavirus infection in Chennai’s Vandalur zoo; nine others test positive

CHENNAI: A lion died of suspected coronavirus infection in Chennai’s Vandalur zoo while nine others have tested positive.
Samples from the lions were collected and sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, which confirmed coronavirus infection.
According to a highly placed source in the wildlife wing of the Tamil Nadu forest department, one of the lions in the zoo was having health issues and the zoo managers suspected it to be coronavirus. Immediately samples were collected and sent to the institute, which confirmed the virus attack in lions. One male lion died. The reason for its death was being analysed by authorities.
The zoo was closed after the state government announced curbs to control Covil-19. Subsequently, all precautionary measures were taken in the zoo to avoid spread of the virus. However, it was not known how the lions contracted the infection, the source said.
Vandalur zoo authorities were getting details about the treatment protocol from Hyderabad zoo where some lions contracted the disease recently. The authorities were also getting guidance from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases on how to go ahead with the treatment, said the source.
At present the zoo has 13 lions (six males and seven females). There is no cub now.