WASHINGTON — Animal keepers at the Smithsonian National Zoo are doing their part to vaccinate all the animals at the zoo against COVID-19. Staff said all the lions and tigers that tested presumptive positive for the virus last month continue to recover well.
Zoo animal care staff also administered the first round of animal-specific COVID-19 vaccines on Oct. 13. All seven orangutans, one western lowland gorilla, one white-eared titi monkey and two emperor tamarins received shots. Veterinarians and keepers are closely monitoring the vaccinated animals and have not observed any side effects.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has authorized the use of an animal-specific COVID-19 vaccine made by Zoetis. All 11 animals will receive a second dose of the vaccine.
Vaccines will continue to be administered to select animals identified as susceptible species at the zoo and at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, in the coming months. The lions and tigers will receive the vaccine no sooner than 90 days post-infection. The zoo’s other COVID-19 safety and response protocols are in place and continue to be strictly followed, officials said in a release.