Tiger at Ohio zoo dies of COVID complications

A tiger at an Ohio zoo has died of health complications linked to COVID-19.

The 14-year-old feline, named Jupiter, died on Sunday after developing pneumonia caused by the virus, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said in a Facebook post Wednesday. Jupiter was receiving long-term treatment for chronic underlying illnesses, which made him more susceptible to coronavirus, when his caretakers noticed a change in his behavior on June 22.

“He was not interested in eating, and was reluctant to stand, move or interact with keepers,” according to the post. “When this continued into the next day, Jupiter was anesthetized for examination and treatment.”

Despite extra care and treatment, the tiger’s symptoms persisted. Zookeepers said that while “he appeared stable, Jupiter passed away overnight.”

The zoo added that as a precaution, staff working with cats, great apes and mustelids — like otters and wolverines — will now be required to wear masks when within six feet of the animals because they “are more susceptible to contracting Covid-19.”

“Jupiter’s care team remembers 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’ that was heavy for keepers to move but something he carried around like it weighed nothing,” the zoo said.

“Jupiter will be greatly missed.”