Snow leopard at San Diego Zoo catches COVID-19

Ramil, an unvaccinated snow leopard at the San Diego Zoo, was infected with COVID-19, the center reported Saturday.

Keepers realized Thursday that this 9-year-old had a

cough and a runny nose

.

They then proceeded to perform two consecutive stool tests that confirmed the presence of the coronavirus virus in their body.

The zoo is waiting for an Agriculture Department lab to test the result a third time, but

assumes it will also test positive

, according to a spokesperson.

“The snow leopard

is being closely monitored

and does not appear to have any significant signs of disease other than the symptoms mentioned.

The source of the possible exposure is still being investigated, while we continue to trace the chain of contacts, ”the center explained on Twitter.

Ramil shares an enclosure with a female snow leopard and two Amur leopards, so staff assume they have been exposed to the virus. 

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As a precautionary measure,

the animals were quarantined

and the area hosting the leopards was closed to the public.

"We can assure that the snow leopard and Amur leopards that share their habitat

are receiving excellent care,

" said Dwight Scott, executive director of the zoo, in a statement.

In January, a group of eight gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park contracted COVID-19 from a keeper who had the virus but had no symptoms.

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Gorillas, who have already recovered, became the first known specimens of apes to be infected with the virus.

The case prompted the zoo to request an experimental vaccine for emergency animal use against COVID-19. 

In April 2020, a tiger at the Bronx Zoo became the

first case of an animal to test positive

for the coronavirus.

Since then, researchers have occasionally detected infections in lions and domestic cats, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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 Most of the cases have been mild, but the situation is more delicate when it comes to

endangered species

.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there are only between 4,000 and 6,500 snow leopards left in the wild, and only 90 Amur leopards.

The vaccine from Zoetis, an animal health company that was formerly part of Pfizer, was administered to the species most at risk of contracting the virus, including several primates and big cats.

Ramil, however, had not been vaccinated before becoming infected.

For now, the zoo has not established any measure that requires its staff to be vaccinated, but non-immunized employees are required to wear a mask at all times, the center explained.

With information from AP and LATimes