Buin Zoo in Chile Tests Experimental COVID-19 Vaccine to Protect Its Animals

A veterinarian administered an experimental COVID-19 vaccine to a tiger in a cage at the Buin Zoo in the Chilean capital Santiago. Another zoo worker fed the animal chunks of raw meat via a pair of long tongs to the tiger and lion to ensure their safety. This incident took place on 13 December.

The Buin Zoo of Chile is looking to keep its animals safe from the coronavirus. The new variant of coronavirus is increasing rapidly. The omicron variant navigates the country into the third wave of COVID-19 infections. Now, it is also important for zoos to take care of their animals. The zoo in Chile is focusing on vaccinating animals considering the fact that animals might get COVID-19 from close contact with people. On Monday, lions, tigers, and pumas received the Covid-19 vaccine at the zoo.

Buin Zoo is trying to keep its animals safe

Buin Zoo director Ignacio Idalsoaga said that they are administering an experimental formula donated by global animal health company Zoetis Inc to its 10 most susceptible animals. The Buin Zoo started searching for ways to keep its animals safe from coronavirus after they learned that they were susceptible to the coronavirus like human beings.  Zoetis Inc is testing the Covid-19 vaccine in different zoos, mainly in the United States to protect animals.

Animals died due to Covid-19 infection

Reportedly, there have been a few known cases of zoo animal deaths from COVID-19 complications at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska. Three rare snow leopards also died recently after getting infected by the coronavirus. Recently,  St. Louis Zoo and the Denver Zoo were also engaged with COVID-19 outbreaks among their animals.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of animals spreading the coronavirus to people is low. However, the coronavirus can spread from people to animals during close contact.