ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris)

[peter]

IS THE CORONOVIRUS A THREAT TO WILD TIGERS?

Captive tigers and lions have been affected by the coronovirus (Bronx Zoo, New York City), but it wasn't known if the virus could affect wild tigers. That recently, at least to a degree, changed when a Pench tiger showed signs of illness. Although treated with antibiotics, he died near a water hole. 

A few days before it was determined a giant hairball had likely killed the cat, Indian officials put the country's 50 wild tigers reserves on high alert. A bit premature, some concluded. 

But tigers are vulnarable to rabies, anthrax and canine distemper and can also fall victim to infectious peritonities, a disease caused by another coronavirus strain that affects the gastrointestal tract. 

Furthermore, Chinese researchers recently demonstrated that the virus reproduces efficiently in domestic cats and can be transmitted by respiratory droplets between animals. The results have not yet been subject to peer review, but Anup Kumar Nayak of the National Tiger Conservation (" ... This coronavirus could turn out to be very dangerous ... ") doesn't want to take any risks. 

Ullas Karanth, however, is more worried about the indirect effect of the virus. He thinks desperate locals, hunting tiger prey species for meat during the lockdown, are a bigger threat than the disease: " ... There is a real surge in this kind of hunting ... ":       

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/science/india-tigers-coronavirus.html?referringSource=articleShare

Here's the New York Times article written by Gloria Dickie for those not involved in links (thanks, Shelly). I added a few colours. Hope you don't mind:

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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