<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/19/bird-flu-zoos-endangered-animals-captive-species-lions-tigers-cheetahs-virus>
"Dozens of rare animals including tigers, lions and cheetahs are dying as bird
flu infiltrates zoos, with potentially “grave implications” for endangered
species, researchers have warned.
As a growing number of zoos report animal deaths, scientists are concerned that
infected wild birds landing in enclosures could be spreading it among captive
animals. In the US, a cheetah, mountain lion, Indian goose and kookaburra were
among the animals that died in Wildlife World Zoo near Phoenix, according to
local media reports last week. San Francisco Zoo temporarily closed its
aviaries after a wild red-shouldered hawk was found dead on its grounds, and
later tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAIV). A rare
red-breasted goose died at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, causing aviaries to
close and penguin feeding for visitors to be suspended in November. These cases
follow the deaths of 47 tigers, three lions, and a panther in zoos across south
Vietnam over the summer.
“Given the potentially fatal consequences of an HPAIV infection in birds and in
some mammals, such as big cats, these infections may have grave implications
for endangered animal species refuged in zoos,” said Dr Connor Bamford, a
virologist from Queen’s University Belfast.
Researchers say cases have probably emerged in zoos because of infected wild
birds flying in and out of enclosures, and this tends to happen more during the
migration season. A number of US states, including Louisiana, Missouri and
Kansas, have reported an increase in bird flu cases, especially in geese and
waterfowl. There has been a “sharp jump” of cases in Iowa, according to state
authorities, after “nearly a year” with no detections of the virus.
“We need to consider how to manage this situation, either through enhancing zoo
biosecurity or by vaccinating zoo animals. This instance gives us another
wake-up call to the importance of HPAIV and its impacts on animals, and
people,” said Bamford.
Researchers have warned for decades that this variant of bird flu could kill
primates, rodents, pigs and rabbits, with reports of Bengal tigers and clouded
leopards also being killed."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
