SINGAPORE – Four lions at the Singapore Night Safari have tested positive for Covid-19, The Straits Times reported yesterday.
Quoting the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), the online news report said the four Asiatic lions at the Night Safari exhibited mild signs of sickness including coughing, sneezing, and lethargy on November 6.
The AVS, which comes under the National Parks Board, tested samples from all four of the Asiatic lions for the Sars-CoV-2 virus via polymerase chain reaction and found all four positive for the virus.
Also, an African lion at the Singapore Zoo had shown similar symptoms on November 8 and it too is being tested for the virus.
The felines probably contracted the virus from exposure to Covid-19 positive staff from Mandai Wildlife Group, which manages the zoological park operations, said the report.
According to the report, the AVS has issued an order to the group under the Animals and Birds Act to isolate all nine Asiatic lions and five African lions in their respective dens.
This includes the four Asiatic lions and one African lion with the symptoms, it said.
The AVS reportedly said it is working with Mandai Wildlife Group to closely monitor the health of the lions and will be testing samples from the remaining lions. – Bernama, November 10, 2021
