Stalin visits Vandalur Zoo, reviews treatment given to COVID-infected Asiatic lions

Chennai: Two days after the death of a nine-year-old lioness and nine other lions infected by COVID (SARS COV-2), Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday visited the Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), popularly called as Vandalur Zoo, to take stock of the situation and the treatment being given to them.

During his visit, the Zoo authorities informed the Chief Minister that seven samples (3 Lions and 4 Tigers) were sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly for a detailed analysis.

The samples of all lions are also being analysed through genetic sequencing in the Centre for Cellullar and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, which is an approved animal SARS-CoV-2 virus sequencing centre by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to find the strain of the virus that has infected the Lions.

This analysis is expected to throw better insights into the reasons and possibilities of Covid-19 contraction by animals.

The Chief Minister, who is also the Chairperson of Zoo Authority of Tamil Nadu reviewed the treatment being given to infected lions and took stock of the medical intervention being administered by the in house vets under the expert guidance of the TANUVAS team of doctors.

He also directed the senior officials of the Department of Environment and Forest and the Zoo authorities to take all measures to provide the best treatment to infected lions as per the protocols.

He also instructed the authorities to ensure that proper vaccination is administered to all animal handlers and zoo officials.

Mr was taken around the enclosures through the eco-friendly battery operated vehicle, where first instances of Covid-19 was found in lions.

While conducting the Chief Minster through the Lion and Tiger enclosures and Lion Safari areas, the officials explained about the measures taken to identify the causes of such infections, an official release said.

AAZP Director Debasis Jana explained the measures taken on ground to monitor all animals and meticulously follow all SOPs and treatment protocols as advised by the CZA and TANUVAS.

The AAZP veterinarians team led by Dr.Sridhar explained to Mr Stalin the course of the treatment being given to the infected lions and also monitoring the health of other animals of the Zoo.

It may be noted that an incident of COVID-19 outbreak was reported in the Asiatic lions at AAZP on June 3.

Few of the lions were found symptomatic and one of them--a nine-year-old lioness, Neela, succumbed to the infection.

Similar incidents were reported earlier at the lion enclosures at Hyderabad and Jaipur zoo and Etawah (UP) lion safari.

As a precautionary measure, Government had closed all the zoos to visitors in the State since April 20, 2021.

The zoo officials have immediately quarantined all the Asiatic lions and with the help of the vets and under the supervision of the seniors vets of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary University, treatments have been started with the antibiotics and other prophylactic drugs.

Samples from the 11 Asiatic lions were sent to iCAR-NIHSAD lab (ICMR approved), Bhopal for tests and further samples of tigers and other large mammals are also being sent for testing, the release said. (UNI)