Various measures are being taken at the Phoenix Zoo to protect the animals from COVID-19
From social distancing to protocols for handling a positive case, everything is part of a new normal for the Valley Zoo.
PHOENIX – – In January 2020, several gorillas at the San Diego Zoo contracted the virus that causes COVID-19, and it was a wake-up call for the zoo keepers at the Phoenix Zoo to take more precautions and increase vigilance.
Carl Stone, Senior Carnivore Keeper at the Phoenix Zoo, always kept a safe distance when feeding the zoo’s Sumatran tigers. Nowadays, however, six feet has a very different meaning.
“It was almost a surprise. We immediately took precautions with our primates,” said Stone. “It was only because of their close genetic relationship with humans that we expected them to be susceptible, but we didn’t expect cats to be the first to show signs of the virus.”
Tigers, like humans, are at risk of contracting COVID-19.
“We’re trying to be more proactive with ourselves. We’re trying to monitor our personal health because even we can pass it on to the cats,” said Stone.
“When we go into zoomedicine we are very much aware of the one concept of health in which the health of animals, humans and the environment are closely linked, and this is an excellent example,” said Dr. Kristin Phair, Director of Veterinary Services at Phoenix Zoo.
According to Dr. Phair zookeepers began changing their daily routines in early 2020 to limit the spread of COVID-19 to animals at greatest risk.
“Since a Tamandua is a COVID-restricted animal, we can no longer turn it off because it would interact with the public and only things that the public has touched,” said Sue Tacho, zoo keeper at Phoenix Zoo.
Al, the Tamandua at the Phoenix Zoo, is susceptible to the virus. Meanwhile, armadillos and bats can also get COVID-19, and these animals are part of the zoo’s animal ambassador program. Nowadays, zookeepers cannot take them out and risk exposure.
“It has its individual fruits and strengths, and then we’re going to pack them in lunch boxes and toss them around the exhibit. We’ll throw them on top of the net so they have to climb to interact,” said Jessica Hintz, senior primate keeper at the Phoenix Zoo.
Hintz wears a mask and gloves when handling food and keeps a socially safe distance. She says the orangutans miss interacting with the zookeepers, so the enrichment is offered in other ways.
In the meantime, safety must be a top priority.
“Almost everything we can get, they can get. We’re only so close genetically,” said Hintz.
Drastic measures are also being taken to ensure the safety of black-footed ferrets.
“They are descended from an extremely small number of wild animals. They are genetically a little genetically disappointed, so we fear that they may not be able to fight off disease and some other animals,” said Tara Harris. Phoenix Zoo Director for Conservation and Science.
The Phoenix Zoo is home to only one of six facilities in the world that return black-footed ferrets to the wild. These days, plexiglass has been placed around cages, a limited number of staff are permitted, and those who are permitted must wear PPE from head to toe.
While the zoo is open to the public and every precaution is taken among guests, it is the animals that veterinarians and zookeepers deal with the most, and a log is in place when a positive case is found.
“I think we would monitor first, but then we would probably have to alert our state veterinarian if we had a high level of concern,” said Dr. Phair. “We’ll probably look at our employees in this area and find out if anyone is also clinical at this point.”
Dr. Phair says if the state veterinarian ordered a COVID-19 test, it would be done in the same way as it would on humans: a nose or mouth swab, or a blood test.
All zookeepers, including Stone, make sure there is enough space, but they also keep a close eye on behavior and make sure the animals maintain their energy levels and appetites, both of which are signs that something is wrong.
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