Chile Zoo Vaccinates Lions and Tigers Against Coronavirus

In the Chilean capital Santiago, a zoo has vaccinated lions, tigers, pumas, and an orangutan against the coronavirus.

This happened with an experimental vaccine from the American manufacturer Zoetis, which had previously also been used to vaccinate animals in American zoos.

The ten most vulnerable animals at the Buin Zoo received the vaccine, according to park director Ignacio Idalsoaga. He hopes that the experimental vaccine can soon be produced on a large scale so that “all animals in parks can be protected against the deadly virus”.

Animal health organization Zoetis has already tested the vaccine on several animals in American zoos after the first great apes were vaccinated at a zoo in San Diego at the beginning of this year.

More and more zoos worldwide are concerned about the consequences of the coronavirus for animals. At the beginning of this month, two hippos from the Antwerp zoo were found to have Covid-19. Last month, three snow leopards died in an American zoo after being infected with the coronavirus.