A 4-year-old tiger at the Bronx zoo has tested positive for coronavirus.
The female Malayan tiger, her sister, two Amur tigers and three African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.
All of the cats are still bright, alert and interactive with their keepers, though they experienced some decrease in appetite, zoo officials said.
The USDA released the following statement.
"This is the first case of its kind. We are still learning about this new coronavirus and how it spreads. This case suggests that a zoo employee spread the virus to the tiger. Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by COVID-19. State animal and public health officials will continue to work closely with USDA and CDC to monitor this situation and will conduct additional testing if it is warranted."
They were infected by a person caring for them, according to WCS. Preventative measures are now in place for all staff caring for cats at WCS zoos.
This article was written by Aliza Chasan for
WPIX.
