20 big cats die from bird flu at Washington wildlife sanctuary

[ad_1] Fowl flu ripped by means of a Washington state wildlife sanctuary, killing 20 large cats, the middle mentioned in a Fb publish, calling the deaths a "important loss."

The primary cat obtained sick round Thanksgiving, Mark Mathews, the director of the Wild Felid Advocacy Heart in Shelton, advised NBC affiliate KING-TV of Seattle. By early December, the state had confirmed circumstances of chicken flu of their cats.

In a Fb publish on Friday, the sanctuary introduced the deaths. They embody 5 African servals, 4 cougars, 4 bobcats, two Canada lynx, and one every of the next: Bengal cat, Amur/Bengal tiger, African caracal, Geoffroy's cat and Eurasian lynx.

"This tragedy has deeply affected our workforce, and we're all grieving the lack of these unbelievable animals," the sanctuary mentioned, asking the group for help.

Mathews advised KING-TV that on the finish of November, he had 37 cats and now he has 17.

A number of the cats have been featured on the sanctuary's web site. Tabbi, an endangered half-Bengal and half-Amur tiger, loved enjoying within the water, the location states. Hannah, a cougar, was dropped at the sanctuary as a cub from Wyoming after her mom was killed. The web site described Hannah as "candy" and mentioned she preferred "sneaking up on volunteers." Mouse, a Geoffroy's cat and one of many smallest animals on the sanctuary, captured the hearts of everybody who met her, the web site acknowledged.

Mathews advised KING-TV that the deaths have been a residing nightmare.

"On daily basis, it’s simply sort of you get up and also you assume hopefully it’s a nasty dream, however it’s not," he mentioned.

Mouse, a Geoffroy's Cat, died after contracting chicken flu on the Wild Felid Advocacy Heart of Washington in Shelton, Wash. Wild Felid Advocacy Heart of Washington by way of Fb Well being officers confirmed that over half of the sanctuary's animals had contracted avian influenza, the Fb publish acknowledged. The virus primarily spreads by means of contaminated chicken secretions and droppings. Carnivorous mammals can contract it by coming into contact with contaminated birds or a contaminated surroundings.

The sanctuary mentioned cats are notably weak to chicken flu and signs can progress quickly, "usually leading to loss of life inside 24 hours as a result of pneumonia-like situations."

To guard the opposite animals and forestall additional unfold, the sanctuary is below quarantine and can stay closed till additional discover.

The deaths come as zoos throughout the nation have began taking precautionary measures. 5 zoo animals died from chicken flu outdoors Phoenix, and one animal died at a zoo in Seattle.