3 snow leopards with COVID-19 die at Lincoln Children’s Zoo

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Three snow leopards have died at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska of complications from COVID-19.
The zoo made the announcement in a Facebook post-Friday, describing the deaths of the three leopards — named Ranney, Everest, and Makalu— as “truly heartbreaking.”
The zoo began treating the leopards and two Sumatran tigers for the virus last month. The zoo said the tigers, Axl and Kumar, have made a recovery.
The zoo said it remains open to the public and continues to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to humans and animals.
Zoos across the country, including at the St. Louis Zoo and the Denver Zoo, have battled COVID-19 outbreaks among their animals.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Officials at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo announced Wednesday that five big cats at the zoo are being treated for COVID-19.
Two Sumatran tigers and three snow leopards were tested after they began showing signs of the virus during the weekend, spokeswoman Sarah Wood said in a release.
Wood said zoo officials don’t believe the public was at risk because of the distance between the animals and zoo visitors.
The cats are the first animals at the zoo to test positive for the virus, she said. They are expected to recover after being treated with steroids and antibiotics to prevent secondary infection.
The zoo is also following treatment plans that were successful at other zoos, The Lincoln Journal Star reported.