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A special COVID-19 vaccine has been developed for susceptible animals. The vaccine is from Zoetis; the company has donated 11,000 doses to zoos and other organizations in North America.
the CDC reports that many animals — including domestic dogs and cats, big cats, hyenas, nonhuman primates, coatimundis, otters and white-tail deer — can all catch COVID from humans.
The Toronto Zoo announced Thursday that there are 120 animals being vaccinated against COVID-19, based on a sensitivity list developed both through research and from reports of positive cases in other zoos around the world.
Dolf DeJong, CEO of the Toronto Zoo, said there had been no positive cases in any of the zoo’s animals at any time during the pandemic.
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“Being able to add this extra layer of protection allows us to continue doing everything we can to provide them with the highest level of protection and medical care,” DeJong said of the vaccinations.
“We have an incredible team here at the Toronto Zoo and it’s been amazing to watch the care and commitment that goes into training many of these animals to participate in their own healthcare.”
How does an animal participate in its own healthcare?
If you’ve ever wondered who can get close enough to do the job of jabbing lions and tigers and bears — oh my! — at the zoo, the answer is: their trusted wildlife care staff.
And they give the vaccination with the animal’s cooperation.
Voluntary positive reinforcement training is something the animal experts work on with the animals over many years, helping to ensure that all vaccine rollouts (and other health routines) can be done with a minimum of stress to the animals.
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Many of the animals willingly present a flank or arm or tail as part of regular training sessions, and they get a treat as a reward.
The animal can choose to participate in the training sessions or walk away and try again another day.
The training sessions and the trust involved make it possible for the staff to give vaccinations, draw blooddo X-rays, trim hooves and perform other tasks related to the health of the animals.
Check the Zoo’s facebook page to see how it’s done.
US Zoos began vaccinating animals against COVID last year and no significant adverse results have been reported.
No zoo animals have tested positive for COVID in Canadian zoos, but they have died of the virus elsewhere.
Primates are susceptible to COVID-19, and scientists were particularly concerned about the great apes.
On that subject, the Calgary Zoo has a new infant gorilla, the first one born there in six years. The mother is Dossi, 21 — it’s her first baby from her — and the father is Jasiri, 23, a silverback.
The baby was born Wednesday and the sex is not yet known.
On Thursday, the Toronto Zoo posted pictures on Twitter of the orang-utan Sekali with her infant son, noting that the other orang-utans at the zoo seem fascinated by the new arrival.