With the recent news that Nadia, a Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, was infected with the novel coronavirus by a zookeeper caring for her, many people are wondering how zoos in general are responding. The Audubon Nature Institute, which runs the Audubon Zoo, issued a statement identifying some of the particular steps they are taking to ensure the protection of not only their cats (like the Audubon Zoo lion shown above, as well as tigers, leopards, jaguars, ocelots, and servals), but of other species that may similarly be susceptible to COVID-19, including some primates, bats, otters, ferrets, and exotic swine such as babirusas.
Not only are there no infected animals at the Audubon Zoo, but they also note that there is no evidence that any person has been infected with COVID-19 in the US by any animals, including by pet dogs or cats.
For an update on Bronx Zoo’s Nadia, see this video from Animal Planet Update on COVID-19.
We are grateful to all the dedicated zookeepers throughout the nation and the world who continue to care for these animals while their institutions are closed to the public.