The Columbus Zoo is mourning the loss of its 14-year-old Amur tiger, Jupiter.The zoo said Jupiter died Sunday from pneumonia caused by COVID-19.Zoo officials said Jupiter had been on a long-term treatment for chronic underlying illnesses he had which made him more compromised to the virus. He is the first animal at the zoo to die from COVID-19, the zoo said.His care team noticed he was sick last Wednesday when he wasn’t interested in eating and was reluctant to stand or move and interact with his keepers.It continued for a day before the care team put him under anesthesia to examine him and find ways to treat his illness.He was diagnosed with an infection and his team began treating him. But they said his condition didn’t get better.The next day, the care team did more testing and treatments and although he appeared to be in stable condition, Jupiter died overnight.Out of an abundance of caution, zoo staff working with cats, great apes and mustelids are required to wear masks when they’re within 6 feet since they’re more likely to get COVID-19 than others.Jupiter was born at the Moscow Zoo on July 9, 2007. He came to the Columbus Zoo on March 19, 2015, after being at the Zoo Dvur Kralove in the Czech Republic. Related video: 80 animals receive COVID-19 vaccination at the Cincinnati ZooHe sired nine cubs, six at the Columbus Zoo, contributing to the future of this endangered species, the zoo said.His care team will remember him as a big and impressive tiger who loved fish, sleeping in the habitat’s cave, playing with cardboard boxes and interacting with another favorite item— a 75-pound firehouse “plus sign.”He also was known for being very friendly with the female tigers, Mara and Natasha.”Jupiter will be greatly missed,” the zoo said.
The Columbus Zoo is mourning the loss of its 14-year-old Amur tiger, Jupiter.
The zoo said Jupiter died Sunday from pneumonia caused by COVID-19.
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Zoo officials said Jupiter had been on a long-term treatment for chronic underlying illnesses he had which made him more compromised to the virus.
He is the first animal at the zoo to die from COVID-19, the zoo said.
His care team noticed he was sick last Wednesday when he wasn’t interested in eating and was reluctant to stand or move and interact with his keepers.
It continued for a day before the care team put him under anesthesia to examine him and find ways to treat his illness.
He was diagnosed with an infection and his team began treating him. But they said his condition didn’t get better.
The next day, the care team did more testing and treatments and although he appeared to be in stable condition, Jupiter died overnight.
Out of an abundance of caution, zoo staff working with cats, great apes and mustelids are required to wear masks when they’re within 6 feet since they’re more likely to get COVID-19 than others.
Jupiter was born at the Moscow Zoo on July 9, 2007. He came to the Columbus Zoo on March 19, 2015, after being at the Zoo Dvur Kralove in the Czech Republic.
Related video: 80 animals receive COVID-19 vaccination at the Cincinnati Zoo
He sired nine cubs, six at the Columbus Zoo, contributing to the future of this endangered species, the zoo said.
His care team will remember him as a big and impressive tiger who loved fish, sleeping in the habitat’s cave, playing with cardboard boxes and interacting with another favorite item— a 75-pound firehouse “plus sign.”
He also was known for being very friendly with the female tigers, Mara and Natasha.
“Jupiter will be greatly missed,” the zoo said.
