It’s widely believed that the coronavirus originated in bats and was later transmitted to humans.
Since then, the virus has mostly clung to us, probably because few animals have wanderlust or Instagram accounts to fill.
But recent experimental research has shown that cats, dogs, ferrets, fruit bats, hamsters, and tree shrews can become infected with the virus.
Now, it seems like the much-detested virus may even have infected and killed two white tiger cubs.
2 White Tiger Cubs Reportedly Died from COVID-19
Last month, two 11-week-old white tiger cubs died in a Pakistani zoo.
Officials believed they had feline panleukopenia virus, a disease that is reportedly common in Pakistan and targets cats’ immune system.
On 30 Jan, just four days after starting treatment, the two cubs died in the Lahore Zoo.
Now, officials believe they may have been infected with the coronavirus.
This comes after an autopsy revealed that the cubs’ lungs were badly damaged and they were suffering from severe infection.
Even though no PCR test had been done, pathologists concluded that the two cubs died from Covid-19.
The pandemic has killed over 12,000 people in Pakistan and infected over half a million, some of whom were working at the Lahore Zoo.
“After their death, the zoo administration conducted tests of all officials, and six were tested positive, including one official who handled the cubs,” zoo deputy director Kiran Saleem.
“It strengthens the findings of the autopsy. The cubs probably caught the virus from the person handling and feeding them.”
Alleged Poor Living Conditions
Zoos in Pakistan have come under fire in the past from animal rights activists, who say hundreds of animals have died from poor living conditions there.
They believe that the death of these two white tiger cubs are a result of such negligence.
Saleem denied these allegations and invited animal rights activists to visit and check the zoo’s safety and hygiene protocols themselves.
Other Tigers Have Tested Positive in the Past
It isn’t inconceivable that these two tigers died of Covid-19. After all, tigers have contracted the disease in the past.
Last year, five tigers and three lions at the Bronx Zoo in New York City tested positive for Covid-19.
According to National Geographic, the big cats likely contracted the coronavirus from an infected but asymptomatic zookeeper.
In addition, small cats, the kind that you keep in your house to feed and ignore you, have also tested positive for the disease.
While they can certainly become infected with the disease, there’s no evidence to suggest that animals play a significant role in the spread of Covid-19 to people.
Still, for more obvious reasons, you should continue to avoid white tigers.
Featured Image: nattanan726 / Shutterstock.com (Image is for illustration purpose only)
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