TL;DR – Indeed, COVID-19 does not discriminate.
Four Asiatic lions at the Night Safari have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to reports, the lions were infected after being exposed to an infected staff from Mandai Wildlife Group. The lions displayed mild symptoms including coughing, sneezing, and lethargy on Saturday (6 November), said the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) in a news release.
Another African lion at the Singapore Zoo has also shown similar symptoms on Monday (8 November) and is currently undergoing testing.
AVS has issued an order to Mandai Wildlife Group to isolate all nine Asiatic lions and five African lions in their respective dens, and this includes the five lions that have already shown symptoms.
AVS also said that it is working with the Mandai Wildlife Group to closely monitor the health of the lions, and will be testing samples from the remaining lions.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), there is currently no evidence that animals play a role in the spread of the disease to humans.
However, OIE also noted that there have been sporadic and isolated reports in other countries of animals testing positive after coming into close contact with humans infected with COVID-19.