The coronavirus is infecting New Yorkers of all stripes. A 4-year-old Malay tiger at the Bronx Zoo tested positive for the COVID-19 virus after developing a dry cough, the Wildlife Conservation Society said in a statement Sunday.
Nadia, a 4-year-old Malay tiger at the Bronx Zoo, tested positive for COVID-19. She, her Blue sister, two Amur tigers and three African lions developed a dry cough and everyone is expected to recover, the statement said.
The diagnosis was confirmed by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Iowa “as a precaution,” the society said. Big cats are recovering, WCS said. “Although they have experienced a decrease in appetite, cats at the Bronx Zoo are well under veterinary care and are bright, alert and interactive with their caregivers,” the statement said.
Julie Larsen Maher/Bronx Zoo
“It is not known how this disease will develop in big cats, as different species may react differently to new infections, but we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries.” The four big cats affected are at the zoo’s Tiger Mountain exhibit. None of the other cats at the zoo, which includes leopards, cheetahs and cougars, have shown symptoms, society said. Zoo officials said they hope Nadia’s diagnosis will “ensure that any knowledge we gain about COVID-19 will contribute to the world’s continued understanding of this new coronavirus.”
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The zoo has been closed since March 16 due to the spread of the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, animals can become infected with coronavirus, but scientists don’t believe they can transmit the virus to humans.
In the United States, there is no evidence to suggest that any animal, including pets, livestock, or wildlife, can be a source of COVID019 infection at this time, according to the CDC.
