Eight Asiatic lions test positive for coronavirus in Hyderabad zoo

This is the first known case of humans infecting the felines and making them sick in India

Eight Asiatic lions at Hyderabad’s Nehru Zoological Park have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus, perhaps the first known case of the human infecting the felines and making them sick in India. Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology- Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species (CCMB-LaCONES) informed the forest authorities over the phone that the RT-PCR tests of these big cats were positive. The CCMB carried out detailed investigation of the samples for genome sequencing to find out if the strain came from human beings or not. The scientist cautioned the officials to take precautions and start medication at the earliest. The zoo authorities are likely to conduct a CT scan of the lions to know the impact of the infection on their lungs. Zoo Director and Curator . Siddhanand Kukrety and V.V.L. Subhadra Devi respectively did not respond to the repeated calls by this correspondent to deny or confirm the news officially. However, another source on the 380-acre campus, which houses more than 1,500 inmates, said that results from the CCMB were submitted to Ms. Subhadra Devi, and to alert them the scientists have orally told the higher-up about the results on Monday evening.