Twenty big cats, including a Bengal tiger and four cougars, have succumbed to bird flu over the past several weeks at the Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Washington state.
In a heartfelt statement posted on Facebook, the sanctuary expressed grief over the loss of these animals, describing the outbreak as unprecedented. “This tragedy has deeply affected our team, and we are all grieving the loss of these incredible animals,” the post read.
The sanctuary lost five African servals, four bobcats, two Canada lynx, and other species, leaving only 17 big cats at the center. The facility is now under quarantine and closed to the public to prevent further spread of the virus, which is transmitted through respiratory secretions, bird-to-bird contact, or by mammals ingesting infected birds.
Sanctuary Director Mark Mathews described the impact as devastating. “We’ve never had anything like it; they usually die of old age. Not something like this—it’s a pretty wicked virus,” he told The New York Times.
The outbreak has highlighted the vulnerability of felines to bird flu, which can cause pneumonia-like conditions and lead to death within 24 hours.
This news comes as bird flu continues to spread in the United States, affecting cattle, poultry, and even humans. Since April 2024, 61 human cases have been reported, with one severe case in Louisiana requiring hospitalization.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the risk to the general public is low, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently declared a state of emergency to combat the outbreak in the state’s dairy industry.
The Wild Felid Advocacy Center hopes to raise awareness of the devastating impact of bird flu on wildlife while taking every precaution to safeguard its remaining animals.
