May 2021: Based on reports by CCMB-LaCONES, it has now been confirmed that eight Asiatic lions housed in Nehru Zoological Park (NZP), Hyderabad have tested positive for SARS-CoV2 virus.
LaCONES or Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, is a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research lab located in Hyderabad.
It is a part of CCMB (centre for cellular and molecular biology).
It was conceptualised by Lalji Singh.
It is India’s only research facility engaged in conservation and preservation of wildlife and its resources. This lab would strive to: “To promote excellence in conservation biotechnology and serve for conservation of endangered wildlife in India”.
It was established in 1998 with the help of the Central Zoo Authority of India, CSIR, and the government of Andhra Pradesh. It was dedicated to the nation in 2007 by then President of India APJ Abdul Kalam.