It was later reported that the authorities were seeking the assistance of India, which had reported incidents of Covid-19 among lions in the recent past. A total of 255 rectal swabs and 141 faecal samples from different bat species were tested by using the adapted nested PCR protocol for the generic detection of Coronaviruses, and a total of 33 samples had proven positive. It further added: “This supports the assumption that only particular bat species serve as a natural reservoir for harmful human pathogenic viruses like the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, while spill-over events may occur because of environmental impacts and the intrusion of humans to the living areas of the bat species. Being the largest cave in Sri Lanka with as many as five sympatric bat species, numbering over 100,000 individuals, the Wavul Galge Cave provides an excellent natural site for the long term monitoring of bat-borne viruses in Sri Lanka.”Researchers emphasised that this study highlights the need to periodically monitor all bat species and their viruses in the said cave. However, it was only recently that Sri Lanka paid attention to the virus being spread to and among animals.

Source: The Nation June 29, 2021 17:48 UTC