A lioness at the National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala has contracted COVID-19, becoming the second animal at the zoo to get infected.
Government Veterinary Surgeon Dr. N. T. Hewagamage said the lioness was placed in the exhibit along with the male lion ‘Thor’ which was first detected with the virus.
Samples taken from the lioness which were examined at the Medical research Department in Ragama had confirmed that the animal had contracted Covid.
Dr. Hewagamage said many special species of animals are found at the Dehiwala Zoo, and the virus has spread among some animals due to the shortcomings of the Zoo management.
He said following the detection of the virus, a special programme was launched to protect the animals, which was managed by the Government Veterinary Association and implemented by the Zoo management.
However, the zoo management is refusing to adhere to the advise of the Government Veterinary Doctors due to their personal agendas. The management has been accused of obtaining advise from international parties, disregarding that of local doctors, Dr. Hewagamage pointed out.
The Government Veterinary Surgeon further called on the Government to prevent the activities of the Zoo management in this regard.
The lion, named ‘Thor’, which has been in the lion exhibit of the Dehiwala Zoo since being brought from South Korea in 2012, was the first to test positive for COVID-19.
Three caretakers in charge of ‘Thor’ were thereafter placed in quarantine by the Dehiwala Zoo authorities, following the detection of the virus.
Meanwhile, a zebra foal and a hippopotamus were also reported to have died at the Dehiwala Zoo within the last three weeks.
Zoo authorities said at the time that they suspected that the cause of death may have been as a result of the animals contracting COVID-19. (NewsWire)