“We’ve never had anything like it; they usually die basically of old age,” said Mark Mathews, founder of the Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Shelton, Washington State, about the avian flu-related deaths of 20 felines, including a Bengal tiger and four cougars. Three animals that had fallen ill have recovered, while a fourth remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The director and all employees announced with great sorrow that the facility would remain closed under quarantine until further notice so that all enclosures could be disinfected and the source of the virus investigated. It could have been wild bird droppings or contaminated raw meat used to feed the felines. As a preventive measure, more than 3.5 tons of food have already been thrown away.
The first animals became sick in early November. The first cougar died on the 23rd, then within a few days dozens died, until the last, an African serval, on Dec. 13. Now there are only 17 big cats left.
The H5N1 virus has spread very rapidly in recent months. In early December, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reported that “numerous” wild birds were already sick, as was another cougar in Clallam County—big cats are particularly vulnerable. The most serious case is California where almost all cattle and poultry houses are infected, with 645 dairies positive for avian flu. So far in humans, 61 cases have been reported throughout the United States.
