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The Maharashtra government’s forest department has permitted Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) to test Covid-19 vaccines on monkeys.
The State government’s communication portal Mahasamvad reported that Forest Minister Sanjay Rathod has issued orders to the forest department to procure 30 monkeys and hand them over to NIV, which is conducting vaccine research.
The Chief Conservator, Forest, in a letter dated May 30, had requested the State government for permission to capture monkeys for vaccine tests, considering the gravity of the situation.
Rathod, while giving his permission, placed certain terms and conditions.
Monkeys will be captured by trained personnel, causing little injuries to them or other animals in the forest. The government has also placed restrictions on the commercial use of the project. The forest department is likely to jump into the action and capture the monkeys in the forest areas in the Pune region.
According to the State government, the count of Covid-19 patients in Maharashtra was 72,300 by Tuesday. Of these, 31,333 have been cured.
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