FIFTEEN lions from two separate zoos have tested positive for COVID-19!
The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories have confirmed that the animals have been diagnosed with the virus, after showing symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and lethargy.
Eleven African lions at Denver Zoo in Colorado, and four from Hogle Zoo in Utah have all tested positive for the virus, which could go a long way to establishing how it affects members of the big cat community.
The Denver pride, which are all aged between one and nine, had themselves tested with nasal swaps at Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Fort Collins.
Two tigers, Yuri and Nikita, have also come down with the virus, which has spread through the feline section at the zoo, which receives 2.2 million visitors annually.
None of the animals had been vaccinated yet, the Denver zoo said, but would be jabbed by vets as soon as more doses of the animal-specific Zoetis vaccine becomes available.
However, Brian Aucone, who is Senior Vice president for Life Sciences says the diagnoses could ultimately turn out to be positive in more ways than one.
“Fortunately, the vast majority have fully recovered, and the upside is that there’s an established knowledge base for us to draw from to help treat our animals,” Brian said, in a statement released by the zoo.
“We’ve been in touch with other zoos that have also recently managed COVID cases in their big cats to inform the care we’re providing.”
So Mufasa and Simba should fight for another day!
