Thread by @NewsBytesApp

In what is being seen as the first such case in India, eight Asiatic lions have tested positive for the novel coronavirus at a zoo in Hyderabad. Nehru Zoological Park (NZP) got to know about this on April 29. #NehruZoologicalPark #Asiaticlions #COVID19India

However, Dr. Siddhanand Kukrety, the Curator and Director of the zoo, said, "It's true that the lions showed COVID symptoms but I am yet to receive the RT-PCR reports from the CCMB and hence it will not be proper to comment. The lions are doing well." #NehruZoologicalPark

Zoo officials had decided to test the lions after wildlife veterinarians at the facility noticed coronavirus-like symptoms such as coughing, nasal discharge, and a loss of appetite among some of the lions. #COVIDEmergency2021 #Wildlife #NehruZoologicalPark

Subsequently, their swab samples were taken and sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad. Of the 12 lions at the zoo, four males and four females tested positive. #indiaagainstcorona #NehruZoologicalPark #Hyderabad

The Hyderabad zoo has remained closed to the public since May 1 following an advisory from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to close all zoological parks, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries for visitors. #NehruZoologicalPark #NZP #COVIDEmergencyIndia

It is suspected the animals might have contracted the infection from some caretakers at the zoo. In fact, recently, 25 park staff members had tested positive for COVID-19. #AnimalsTestingPositive #Covid19SecondWave #hyderabadcovid #Wildlife

To recall, last April, seven tigers and lions had tested positive for the coronavirus at the Bronx Zoo in New York City. The animals had reportedly been exposed to an asymptomatic zookeeper. #BronxZoo #NewYorkCity #wildlife #COVIDSecondWave #CoronavirusIndia