International Courant
Two animal deaths at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo have been traced to an outbreak of fowl flu, in line with an announcement from zoo officers on Wednesday.
It was additionally introduced that the birdhouse could be closed indefinitely to guard the opposite animals.
Lincoln Park Zoo signage in Chicago, Illinois on June 17, 2018. (Photograph by Raymond Boyd/Getty Pictures)
Raymond Boyd/Getty Pictures
Exams confirmed that extremely pathogenic fowl flu, or HPAI, was liable for the deaths of a Chilean flamingo on January 8 and a harbor seal on January 9.
“The zoo is saddened by the lack of a Chilean flamingo named Teal and a harbor seal named Slater,” the zoo mentioned in an announcement on its web site Wednesday.
“Teal hatched this fall and was simply attending to know her flock and keepers,” the assertion continued. “Slater was seven years outdated and was a beloved seal recognized for his rambunctious and inquisitive nature. He realized rapidly and was typically seen coaching with keepers.”
“Each will probably be enormously missed,” the zoo mentioned.
Teal the Chilean flamingo.
Lincoln Park Zoo
The assertion defined that it had not but been confirmed how both of the 2 animals had been uncovered to fowl flu.
Nonetheless, “it’s nearly sure that the trigger is because of contact with a waterfowl contaminated with HPAI,” the virus referred to as fowl flu, the assertion mentioned.
“That is unhappy information for nature and for the zoo crew. Not solely are we dealing with the primary recognized circumstances of HPAI in animals in our care, however we have now additionally misplaced two great animals,” says Dr. Kathryn Gamble, director of the veterinary division. providers for Lincoln Park Zoo.
Gamble defined that HPAI is a “naturally occurring virus in free-ranging waterfowl,” however mentioned that in recent times a rising variety of mammal species have additionally confirmed inclined to the virus.
Slater the seal.
Lincoln Park Zoo
That features a number of home cats whose diseases in California final month have been traced to avian flu contamination in manufacturers of uncooked pet meals.
“Sharing this information of extremely pathogenic fowl flu within the space is vital to our group as an entire,” mentioned Seth Magle, director of the zoo’s City Wildlife Institute, emphasizing the necessity for each individuals and their pets to guard wildlife to keep away from amid fowl flu. outbreaks.
“To guard your self, do not contact wild animals,” Magle mentioned. “Moreover, maintain your pets protected by holding cats indoors and canine on a leash, away from wildlife.”
In its assertion, Lincoln Park Zoo added, “Zoo guests will not be liable to contracting HPAI from Lincoln Park Zoo animals.”
“As a result of extremely pathogenic avian influenza is unfold by free-ranging birds, it’s no riskier to go to Lincoln Park Zoo than to stroll outdoor,” mentioned ornithologist Megan Ross, who can be president and CEO of Lincoln Park Zoo. “The zoo stays a protected place to attach with the animals in our care.”
On the time of the animals’ deaths, Lincoln Park Zoo was monitoring the HPAI experiences and had developed its HPAI response plan, which it mentioned “addresses issues for each workers and animals.”
“Such measures embody extra private protecting tools, eliminating alternatives for cross-contamination between species and focused monitoring for modifications within the well being or conduct of particular person animals,” the zoo mentioned in an announcement.
Along with closing the McCormick Fowl Home “till additional discover,” the zoo introduced that a few of its fowl species would stay “behind the scenes” for the foreseeable future, to additional make sure the safety of the opposite animals in its care.
