Bronx Zoo in New York City has registered a case of coronavirus among the animals. The infected is a Malayan Tiger that has been identified as Nadia which tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in people.
The big cat is thought to be the first tiger infected with the virus, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to reports that this website has attained, the tiger was tested after several of the zoo’s big cats including lions started showing signs of respiratory illness.
Nadia is 4 years old. The zoo reported that Nadia, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions, had developed a dry cough. It is believed that a zoo employee spread the virus among the big cats.
“We tested the cat out of an abundance of caution and will ensure any knowledge we gain about COVID-19 will contribute to the world’s continuing understanding of this novel coronavirus,” the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) that manages the Zoo said in a statement.
“Though they have experienced some decrease in appetite, the cats at the Bronx Zoo are otherwise doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert and interactive with their keepers. It is not known how this disease will develop in big cats since different species can react differently to novel infections, but we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries.” They further said.
The tiger appears to be the first animal to test positive for the virus in the United States (US) although some animals have been diagonised with the virus outside America. The coronavirus is believed to have mutated from animals to people.
