Chennai: A complete of 9 lions have examined constructive for Covid-19 in Arignar Anna Zoological Park also called Vandalur Zoo located close to Chennai. A lioness named Neela is revealed to have died yesterday.
On May 26, 5 lions housed in Animal House 1 of the Safari Park space have been reported to point out anorexia (lack of urge for food) and occasional coughing. The in-house veterinary group of this room took speedy motion to research and deal with the animals as per protocol, the officers at Vandalur Zoo knowledgeable by means of a press release.
ALSO READ | ‘Those Calling Inflation A National Calamity Should Quit Food,’ Says Chhattisgarh BJP MLA; Clarifies Later
“After this, a team of experts was deputed by TANUVAS to join the veterinarians of AAZP in investigating and deciding the further course of the treatment regimen,” the official assertion learn.
Blood samples have been despatched to TANUVAS and nasal swab, rectal swab, and fecal samples of 11 lions have been despatched to the National Institute of Higher Security Diseases, Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh (*9*) it added.
A lioness named Neela, aged 9 years, housed in Animal House quantity 2 on the Safari space of this Zoological park died on May 3 at round 6.15 pm. The officers knowledgeable that she had been asymptomatic and confirmed some nasal discharge solely the day earlier than and had been symptomatically handled instantly.
“As per the laboratory test results furnished by the institute, samples in respect of 9 lions out of the 11 sent, have tested positive for SARS CoV-2,” the assertion issued by Vandalur Zoo knowledgeable.
In order to establish whether or not or not the reported findings are within the nature of false positives or the animal might have died of comorbidities, samples have additionally been despatched on 4.6.2021 to the Indian veterinary analysis institute Bareilly and the Centre for mobile and molecular biology, Hyderabad, it added.
The officers have knowledgeable that the park has been “scrupulously” sanitised following the precautionary measures prescribed in varied advisories issued by the central zoo authority the central and the state authorities once in a while.
All the lions which have examined constructive are beneath shut remark and on the prescribed therapy routine by the in-house veterinary group in shut coordination with the skilled group from TANUVAS.
As for the caretakers, all animal keepers and helpers for these animal homes are vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19. Besides this, separate units of animal keepers are engaged for every group of lions. PPE youngsters are necessary for the animal keepers, veterinary medical doctors, and discipline workers visiting the realm, the Zoo authorities added.
