Chilean zoo jabs big cats, orangutan

SANTIAGO: Bengal tiger Charly and Bornean orangutan Sandai, both members of endangered species, have received coronavirus vaccines at a Chilean zoo in a Latin American first.

The disease which has killed more than 5.4 million humans so far, has also been found in zoo monkeys, apes and big cats, as well as in deer in the wild, in house pets and in minks.

Along with three lions, two other tigers as well as three pumas, threeyear-old Charly and Sandai, 26, received their second dose on Monday of an experimental vaccine developed especially for animals but not yet available for sale. They received their first shots on Dec 13.

Lions in Singapore, Zagreb and Washington, hippos in Belgium, Sumatran tigers in Indonesia and gorillas in Atlanta, Georgia, are among captive animals reported to have contracted the virus to date.

Nearly 90% of Chile’s population have been fully vaccinated.