A tiger at an Ohio zoo has died after developing pneumonia caused by Covid-19, the zoo announced Wednesday. Jupiter, a 14-year-old old Amur tiger, died Sunday, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said in a Facebook post. According to the zoo, Jupiter had been on long-term treatment for chronic underlying illnesses, which made him more susceptible to this virus.
The tiger was the first animal at the zoo to die from Covid-19, it said. The zoo said Jupiter had initially been reported as acting ill on June 22. The tiger was not interested in eating and was reluctant to move, stand or interact with keepers. “When this continued into the next day, Jupiter was anesthetized for examination and treatment,” the zoo said.
The following day, the tiger was given additional treatments and had more diagnostic testing. He appeared to be stable, but died overnight, it said. The zoo said that as a precautionary measure, staff working with cats, great apes and mustelids, such as otters and wolverines, would be required to wear masks when within six feet of the animals as “these animals are more susceptible to contracting Covid-19.”