India: Pangolin rescued from coronavirus-positive man tests positive for Covid-19

Animals, Asia, Coronavirus, Health, India, Infection, PCR, Reservoir, Science, Testing, Transmission

A pangolin that was recovered from a COVID-positive man has tested positive for the virus, following which it would be kept in isolation.

Authorities found the creature with a wildlife smuggler in the Indian city of Odisha, reports The Times Of India. Though unconfirmed, pangolins, one of the most illegally trafficked mammals, are said to carry viruses similar to the coronavirus.

The pangolin recovered from Odisha is around two years old and weighs eight kg. Police said the smuggler, identified as Singu Baske from the Mayurbhanj district, confessed to the special squad that he caught the animal from Similipal Wildlife Reserve and intended to sell it.

IBTimes.com report

 

 

 

 

Photo by Louis Mornaud on Unsplash

** This post was originally published on May 14, 2021 **