After a tiger tests positive for coronavirus, zoos take new precautions for big cats
Zoos are taking extra steps to protect big cats from the coronavirus after a tiger tested positive for the disease, officials say.
The Bronx Zoo on Sunday said a tiger at its facility got sick from COVID-19, likely from a caregiver who didn’t show symptoms, the Sacramento Bee reported.
Authorities say it’s the first confirmed case of a wild or domesticated cat, according to the Washington Post.
The case of the 4-year-old Malayan tiger has prompted wildlife centers across the country to take action.
At the Los Angeles Zoo, a new plan for all cat species went into effect quickly, according to a post on its website. The zoo on Sunday said it introduced new protocols, starting to use “personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves and social distancing with these animals.”
In North Dakota, staffers at the Red River Zoo in Fargo continue to practice social distancing with cats, the Grand Forks Herald reported. Other measures include extra cleaning and separating workers into teams so not everyone is at the facility at the same time, the newspaper reported Tuesday.
Facilities in Detroit, Philadelphia and Wichita, Kansas, have announced similar measures, according to multiple news outlets.
The Bronx Zoo, where the infection was reported in a tiger, said at least five other big cats developed coughs.
“Preventive measures are now in place for all staff who are caring for them... to prevent further exposure of any other of our zoo cats,” the facility said.
The measures aren’t just being taken at zoos.
Mike the Tiger, the beloved live mascot for Louisiana State University, is getting extra protection, too.
A new fence now puts more space between Mike and people who walk by his enclosure, CNN reported.
“His health and wellbeing are our primary concern,” a post on a Facebook page for the tiger said. “We will, as always, monitor him closely.”
Before the case at the Bronx Zoo, caretakers at LSU and other facilities said they took measures to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus to animals.
Some facilities say they had protocols for staff members that cared for primates and other species, according to news outlets.
Humans can pass on diseases to primates, including gorillas, McClatchy News reported.
Across the country, zoos temporarily have shut down to the public to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 3:44 PM with the headline "After a tiger tests positive for coronavirus, zoos take new precautions for big cats."
