Another four animals suspected to be COVID positive - Wildlife Protection State Minister

• Two chimpanzees and two orangutan’s were suspected to be infected with the Covid virus

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama

Two chimpanzees and two orangutan’s were suspected to be infected with the COVID virus at the Dehiwala zoological gardens, Wildlife Protection State Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake said.   

He said relevant officials were advised to conduct further investigation to identify whether the animals were confirmed with the infection.  Earlier, an eleven-year-old lion, ‘Thor’, which was gifted by a zoo in Seoul in 2013, was found positive for the COVID virus, becoming the first known case of an animal contracting it in the country.  Later, the 12-year-old lioness ‘Sheena’ has tested positive for COVID-19. Both the lion and the lioness have recovered.  

However, the latest health guidelines issued by the Health Ministry said 25% of people can enter the zoological gardens at a given time.