Lion tests positive for Covid-19 in Jaipur zoo

The lion named Tripur was positive for SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. Samples from a panther, a white tiger and a lioness from Jaipur returned inconclusive results, officials said.

Jaipur: A lion at Jaipur zoo has tested positive for COVID-19, Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) officials said on Wednesday.

The lion named Tripur was positive for SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. Samples from a panther, a white tiger and a lioness from Jaipur returned inconclusive results, IVRI Joint Director K P Singh said. He added there was a need to resample them. Thirteen animal samples were received from the Jaipur zoo.

Singh said eight samples including, three tigers, one civet cat, one black buck received from Chhatbir Zoo in Punjab, and one of a blackbuck in Bareilly tested negative for the virus.

The chain of transmission of the virus, Singh suspected, could have taken place through asymptomatic human carriers like caretakers of animals.

On May 4, the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology said eight Asiatic lions in the Hyderabad zoo tested positive for COVID.

(PTI)