March 29, 2024
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Snow leopards die of complications from Covid-19 in US zoo

Three snow leopards from Lincoln Children’s Zoo, Nebraska, USA United StateDied from complications caused by it COVID-19Zoo staff announced on Friday (13).

“Our leopards, Rani, Everest and Makalu, are loved by our entire community in and out of the zoo,” the foundation said in a Facebook post. “This loss is really painful and we are all in mourning together.”

Snow leopards are native to the mountainous regions of Asia It is considered an endangered species according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Last month, the zoo said Sumatran leopards and their tigers tested positive after showing symptoms consistent with those caused by the virus. The zoo said at the time that the animals were treated with steroids and antibiotics to prevent secondary infection.

“The Sumatran tigers Axel and Kumar have apparently fully recovered from their illness,” zoo officials said on Friday. Covid-19 has been detected in many mammals, including big cats, primates, rodents, and minks, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The zoo remains open and “continues to take all precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 to humans and animals,” it said on Facebook.

“We will continue to follow the guidelines of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to ensure the safety of our animals, our employees, and our community,” the post read.

A snow leopard at the San Diego Zoo tested positive in July and three snow leopards at the Louisville Zoo became ill last December.

(Translated text. click here To read the original text in English)