Lions in Hyderabad zoo take a look at COVID-19 constructive; samples examined by CCMB

In maybe the primary such reported incident, eight Asiatic lions within the zoo right here have examined constructive for COVID-19 after their saliva samples had been totally examined by CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad, Rakesh Mishra, advisor of the premier analysis institute mentioned on Tuesday.
“The saliva samples of the Asiatic lions were thoroughly tested and they turned out to be positive. As they were living closely it must have been spread among them,” Mishra instructed PTI.
“Now we are developing a method to test the samples of their feces. This method would be useful in future as every time it is not possible to collect saliva samples from wild animals,” he added.
He additional mentioned the virus which is current within the lions on the Nehru Zoological Park right here isn’t any new variant.
“They have mild symptoms and they are eating well and they are fine,” he mentioned.
Replying to a question, he mentioned there may be each chance of animals contracting the virus as they’re additionally mammals like human beings.
Mishra additional mentioned these animals will need to have bought contaminated by way of zoo-keeping workers.
A senior official of the zoo mentioned they maintain sending the samples of the animals to CCMB occasionally for evaluation.
As the lions began exhibiting signs comparable to fever, the zoo officers collected the samples and despatched them to CCMB.

The official additional mentioned the samples from the wild animals might be collected both by ‘Squeeze cage’ technique or by tranquilising them.
In the ‘squeeze cage’ technique, the animal might be confined in a cage with none area in order that it can not transfer or resist whereas taking samples.

In view of fast unfold of the coronavirus within the nation, the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change, just lately issued an advisory to shut all zoological parks, nationwide parks, tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries for guests until additional orders to regulate the unfold of the pandemic.
Accordingly, the zoo right here, Kakatiya Zoological Park, Warangal, Kawal and Amrabad Tiger Reserves, all National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Telangana had been closed from May 2, an official launch had earlier mentioned.