JAKARTA – Two Sumatran tigers at an Indonesian zoo were recovering from Covid-19 after they tested positive in mid-July, the Jakarta government said in a statement, adding that authorities were trying to find out how they were infected.
Tino, a 9-year old tiger, and Hari, a 12-year old, were tested for coronavirus after both showed flu-like symptoms, had trouble breathing and lost their appetite, the statement said.
The tigers had undergone around 10 to 12 days of treatment and were gradually showing signs of recovery, Jakarta’s Head of the Parks and City Forest Office, Suzi Marsitawati, said according to Reuters.
“Their appetites have returned and they are back to being active,” Suzi said, although both tigers remain under close observation.
She said authorities are doing tracking and tracing to figure out how the tigers were infected.
“When the animals started to show symptoms, the Ragunan zoo was already closed due to emergency mobility restrictions,” Suzi said, referring to the Jakarta zoo.
She added that none of the caretakers and workers had tested positive with coronavirus around the time the animals were infected.