Three snow leopards at Nebraska’s Lincoln Children’s Zoo have died of Covid-19-related problems, zoo officials reported Friday.
“Our leopards, Ranney, Everest, and Makalu, were adored by our entire community, both within and outside the zoo,” the zoo wrote on Facebook. “This is a painful loss, and we are all grieving in unison.”
Three giraffes died in less than a month at the Dallas Zoo. Experts are investigating whether two of the fatalities were related.
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Snow leopards are found only in mountainous regions of Central Asia and are classified as vulnerable by the World Wildlife Fund.
The zoo said last month that its leopards and Sumatran tigers tested positive for the influenza after exhibiting symptoms associated with the infection. The zoo stated at the time that the animals were treated with hormones and antibiotics to prevent further infections.
“Axl and Kumar, the Sumatran tigers, appear to have recovered completely from their illness,” zoo authorities announced on Friday.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Covid-19 has been discovered in a variety of species, including big cats, giraffes, monkeys, ferrets, and minks.
Lions and tigers at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., tested presumptively positive for Covid-19.
Lions and tigers at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., tested positive for Covid-19.
The zoo is still open “and is taking every precaution to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 to humans and animals,” according to a statement on Facebook.
“We will continue to follow AAZV and CDC recommendations to protect the safety of our animals, workers, and community,” the message stated.
In July, a snow leopard at the San Diego Zoo tested positive for the disease, and three snow leopards at the Louisville Zoo tested positive in December.
