A Tiger At The Bronx Zoo Has Tested Positive For Coronavirus
Chinese zodiac says 2020 is technically the Year of the Rat, but obviously the lunar calendar done fucked up, because it’s clearly the Year of the Tiger! First the world’s obsession with Tiger King (calm down, it’s no The Jinx), and now a tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for COVID-19. And after all that obsessive Googling assuring me my cat wouldn’t get the virus! The Wildlife Conservation Society confirmed the bad news in a news release.
via New York Post:
“Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, has tested positive for COVID-19. She, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover,” the statement read.
The diagnosis was confirmed by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Iowa “out of an abundance of caution,” the society said.
“Out of an abundance of caution”? More like out of a combination of pure boredom ft. weed: “Hmmm, should we test these coughing New York tigers for corona?” “LOL YES” But don’t worry, the WCS says the tigers will be OK!
“Though they have experienced some decrease in appetite, the cats at the Bronx Zoo are otherwise doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert, and interactive with their keepers,” the statement said. “It is not known how this disease will develop in big cats since different species can react differently to novel infections, but we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries.”
But how did these lovely orange and black stripey-babies even contract corona?
The animals were infected by a zoo employee who was “asymptomatically infected with the virus” while caring for them, according to the zoo. The Bronx Zoo has been closed to the public since March 16.
Anyone sick with the coronavirus is being advised to minimize contact with animals, including pets, until more information is known about the virus, the USDA said.
If I unknowingly have coronavirus with zero symptoms, there is no way in hell my cat hasn’t already contracted it. The wee feline has replaced all human contact. I’ve begun dreaming as him. We are one.
As for that Tiger King shit, Jeff Lowe, the current owner of the GW Exotic Animal Park, revealed, via Cameo, that Netflix is releasing an additional episode next week.
So our friend @christie_dish listened to the podcast, @HoldingKourt and after last weeks episode decided to send us this!!!
🚨BREAKING NEWS FOLKS🚨
There will be 1 more episode of #TigerKing on@Netflix pic.twitter.com/YeRSIlDKTJ
— Justin Turner (@redturn2) April 4, 2020
Because seven hours with these idiots wasn’t long enough. Sigh. I’ll watch it, though, and Netflix knows it. What else do any of us have going on?