<span style="color: #222222;">Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin today visited the zoo on the outskirts of Chennai where several Asiatic lions are affected by Covid-19 infection.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">A nine-year old lioness called Neela in the Arignar Anna Zoological Park succumbed to the disease last Monday.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The zoo officials have sent the swab samples of three more lions and four tigers to the Indian Veterinary Research institute at Izatnagar in Bareilly, which is the designated research lab for diagnosing the infection among the animals in zoos.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">AIR correspondent reports, the reports about the viral infection among the big cats in Tamil Nadu's biggest zoo near Chennai surprised many animal lovers and researchers alike.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Similar reports have earlier been reported in Hyderabad, Jaipur and Ettawa and several other places worldwide.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The zoo officials with the help of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences are closely monitoring the health of the lions and tigers.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Several affected animals are reportedly showing signs of considerable improvement in their health.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Man-animal contact has been minimised to the possible extent. Measures have been taken for the vaccination of all the staff in the zoo.</span><br />''  <br />