Covid-19: Chilean zoo jabs big cats, orangutan against coronavirus

Big cats and orangutans at a Chilean zoo were vaccinated against Covid-19 on Monday. Bengal Tiger Charly and Bornean orangutan Sandai, both members of endangered species, received the coronavirus vaccines.

Chile is the first Latin American country to vaccinate its zoo animals.

Charly, Sandai and eight other animals at the Buin Zoo in Santiago were chosen for the experimental vaccine campaign as they belong to species considered at high risk of contracting Covid-19.

Along with three lions, two other tigers and three pumas, three-year-old Charly and Sandai, 26, received their second dose on Monday of an experimental vaccine developed especially for animals but not yet available for sale. The animals received their first shot on December 13.

"The idea is to protect the animals that are most susceptible to contracting the coronavirus while testing whether the vaccines generate immunity and, if yes, how long it lasts," said Sebastian Celis, head of the Buin Zoo's veterinary department.

Buin Zoo has not tested any of its animals for coronavirus as none have presented symptoms.

The viral disease which has killed more than 5.4 million humans so far, has also been found in zoo monkeys, apes and big cats, as well as in deer in the wild, in house pets and in minks.

Lions in Singapore, Zagreb and Washington, hippos in Belgium, Sumatran tigers in Indonesia and gorillas in Atlanta, Georgia, are among captive animals reported to have contracted the virus to date.

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