Gandhinagar: Panic has gripped the managements of zoos and wildlife sanctuaries following detection of corona infection among eight lions kept in Hyderabad’s Jawaharlal Nehru Zoological park. All the corona infected lions of Hyderabad zoo were sent from the Gir sanctuary of Gujarat.
After this shocking discovery, the lion safari parks of Sasan Gir’s Devalia and Ambardi, the newly started Gir Nature Park as well as Asia’s oldest zoo in Junagadh have been closed for tourists and visitors for an indefinite period as a precautionary measure. Veterinarians of Junagadh have welcome the move saying this would help in stopping the spread of coronavirus.
Veterinarians welcome decision to close zoos and sanctuaries Doctors and scientists are unable to determine the definite status of the pandemic because the coronavirous’ mutation has been changing constantly.
Under such a situation, India is witnessing the second phase of the pandemic which is more virulent and having widespread impact. The death toll in the second phase has been much higher than the first phase of the pandemic. The decision to close the national wildlife parks will give a new lease of life to the wild animals of Gir forest.
Read: Lions at Hyderabad zoo test Covid positive
Talking to ETV Bharat private veterinary doctor Mithun Khataria said it would be dangerous to treat the pandemic lightly. The recent detection of coronavirus infection among lions is a matter of grave concern and requires immediate precautionary measures. That is the only way to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
Coronavirus was found among dogs in the last few years but its mutation has not been seen in other animals.
After dogs were found infected by coronavirus in the last few years, its vaccine too is available in the market because of which it has not spread among dogs to a large extent. There are no instances of the coronavirus spreading from one animal to another.
It is a serious matter that the Asiatic lions have been found infected by the virus. Lions move in prides and found living in the vicinity of human settlements. Therefore, the incidence of corona infection in lions should not be treated lightly. The coronavirus found among dogs is known as gastric virus. It is a matter of research to ascertain if the virus can spread from humans to animals.
Earlier, some lions in Gir forest had died from CBV virus and the help of doctors of America had to be taken to prevent it from spreading. Therefore, the matter should be treated seriously else it may prove dangerous to the wildlife.
Read: 313 lions died in Gujarat in 2 years
