- The Monterey Bay Aquarium in California has vaccinated eight sea otters against the coronavirus.
- The zoo chose to vaccinate its otters because they believe they are susceptible to the virus.
- Sea otters search for food on the bottom of the sea, so the drowsiness and breathing difficulties caused by Covid-19 make it difficult for them to survive.
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Since August, an aquarium in California has vaccinated eight sea otters to protect them from Covid-19.
Dr. Mike Murray, chief veterinarian of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, said: “There is a lot of evidence that this animal family-ferrets, minks, and otters-are very susceptible to infection.” Seattle Times“We have an obligation to protect the health of animals.”
According to The Times, each of the eight otters received two doses, three weeks apart. The vaccine they received came from a company called Zoetis in New Jersey, which is known for producing animal drugs.
According to The Times, four of the otters—Ivy, Abby, Kit, and Selka—are residents of the aquarium, while the other four are rescue workers who have been separated from their mothers in the wild.
Worried about sea otters-thought to be Endangered species -It can be infected with the coronavirus and cause an outbreak, leading to a decrease in the population.
There are reports that otters have contracted this disease in the United States.Or, for example, earlier this year, an aquarium in Georgia said that its Asian small-clawed otters Tested positive for the virus that causes Covid-19. These otters exhibit various symptoms, including sneezing and coughing.
Monterey Bay is believed to be the first aquarium in the country to vaccinate sea otters against the coronavirus. Murray told the New York Times that the otter did not show any adverse reactions to the vaccine. “They don’t seem to miss a beat,” he said.
Sea otters dive deep into the ocean looking for food on the bottom of the sea, so if they are sleepy or unable to breathe normally, they will not survive.
“The virus is a respiratory virus,” Murray told the New York Times. “Sea otters in the wild are Olympic athletes. If they can’t bottom out, they will starve to death. They must be able to breathe effectively to hunt.”
A zoo in Ohio is planning Vaccination of 16 animals, From Sumatran tiger to lemur to goat.The decision was made after the five lions in the zoo Tested positive for Covid-19. The Oakland Zoo in California has vaccinated some of its animals, such as Mountain Lion and Gibbon,same.
