Tiger dies of COVID-19 at Columbus Zoo

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — An Amur tiger at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio died Sunday after developing pneumonia caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The 14-year-old, named Jupiter, suffered from chronic underlying illnesses that made him more vulnerable to the virus, the zoo said in a Facebook post.

Jupiter is the first animal at the zoo to die from COVID-19. Other animals in the country, ranging from dogs to snow leopards, have also succumbed to the disease.

The zoo said Jupiter first began exhibiting symptoms on June 22, 2022, when he expressed a disinterest in eating and moving. He was later anesthetized for examination and treatment, which uncovered that he was likely infected.

His condition, however, remained largely unchanged, the zoo noted.

While he was given additional treatments the following day and appeared stable, his handlers said Jupiter died overnight.

Born at the Moscow Zoo in 2007, he arrived at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in 2015 following a stint at the Zoo Dvur Kralove in the Czech Republic. He sired nine cubs, including six born in the United States.

“Jupiter’s care team remembers him as a big and impressive tiger who loved fish, sleeping in the habitat’s cave, playing with cardboard boxes, and interacting with another favorite item — a 75-pound firehouse ‘plus sign’ that was heavy for keepers to move but something he carried around like it weighed nothing,” the zoo wrote.

“Jupiter will be greatly missed,” the message continued.

All staff working with cats, great apes and other animals like otters are required to wear masks as a precautionary measure, said the zoo’s post.

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