Zoo officials said on Friday that three snow leopards at the Nebraska Zoo had died of COVID-19 one month after contracting the virus.
Lincoln Children’s Zoo stated that Lenny, Mount Everest and Marakou have all died from complications related to COVID-19. Three snow leopards and a pair of Sumatran tigers tested positive for COVID for the first time on October 13, and the latter has fully recovered.
Veterinarians tried to treat snow leopards with radical treatments of steroids and antibiotics, but ultimately proved to be a failure.
“Our leopard… is loved by the entire community inside and outside the zoo,” Lincoln Children’s Zoo said in a statement Facebook.
However, the zoo reiterated that it will continue to be open to the public.
“[The zoo] The statement continues to be open to the public and continues to take all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to humans and animals. “We will continue to follow the American Association of Zoo Veterinary (AAZV) and CDC Guidelines to ensure the safety of our animals, employees, and communities. “
A zoo spokesperson added: “It is very difficult to lose any animal accidentally, especially the rare and beloved animal like the snow leopard.”
The trio died just one month after another snow leopard at the Great Plains Zoo also died of suspected COVID infection. At about the same time, a Siberian tiger in the zoo was also infected with COVID.
Eric Ramand/Getty
Although COVID-19 infection in animals is rare, it is not unheard of. Although the CDC does not know the exact number of species that are susceptible to the virus, as a precautionary measure, many zoos have begun to use spare COVID vaccine vials to protect their animals.
The virus has been found in animals such as cats, dogs, lions, otters, tigers and gorillas. The CDC stated that the symptoms of COVID in animals may include many of the same symptoms as in humans: fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and general drowsiness.
The death of three Lincoln Snow Leopards marks the heartbreaking loss of a big cat that has already faced a declining population. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) lists snow leopards as a vulnerable species, and estimates that there are only 4,000 to 6,500 in the wild.
In the next few decades, this number is expected to continue to decline.
Almost all the natural enemies of snow leopards are humans. The species continues to face threats from hunters and livestock farmers who commit retaliatory killings.
Poachers’ hope to sell snow leopard fur-these furs can be sold for thousands on the black market-is also an important reason for the downfall of this animal.
Other threats to snow leopards also come from climate change.
WWF estimates that global warming may cause snow leopards to lose up to 30% of their Himalayan habitat. The Asian mountains are one of the few areas on earth where snow leopards are found in the wild.
Weekly newspaper WWF has been contacted for comments.
