When the Covid-19 outbreak has started, many animals across the globe have contacted the virus. Animal lovers and pet lovers in India are happy that the trend of animals coming in contact with Covid-19 was restricted to Western countries only.
As one more worry to India, the first instance of animals getting infected with Covid-19 was reported in the country. Telangana capital Hyderabad reported the incident of animals testing Covid-19, the first of its kind in India.
At least eight Asiatic lions at the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The infections were detected after the RT-PCR tests were conducted.
Going by the media reports, the staff members at the Nehru Zoo Park have noticed the lions showing Covid-19 symptoms like coughing and nasal discharge. Taking the advice of the doctors and officials, the animals were tested for the deadly virus.
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) Director Rakesh Mishra said that eight of the total 12 animals in the Zoo were infected with the old variant of the virus. The infected animals were sent to isolation.
Following this, the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad and other Zoos, Tiger Reserves and Wildlife sanctuaries across the state have been shut as a precautionary measure.