Death of a Lioness Amidst Coronavirus Outbreak in Zoo

A zoo on the outskirts of Chennai, South India, announced today that a nine-year-old Asiatic lioness has died after contracting the coronavirus. Several cases of COVID-19 have been observed in animals, including two white tiger cubs believed to have died from the virus in neighboring Pakistan and lions confirmed to be infected in Spain and two other cities in India. The Arignar Anna Zoo stated, "The lioness Nila, aged nine, passed away due to complications from the disease on the evening of June 3." The zoo added that an outbreak was detected on Thursday when symptoms appeared in most of the lions, and the infected animals were placed in quarantine and treated with antibiotics. The statement also mentioned that "samples from the tigers and large mammals have been sent for testing."