Snow leopards at Nebraska zoo die of COVID-19

Three snow leopards at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska died Friday from coronavirus-related complications. 

The zoo announced the news in a Facebook post on Friday evening.

“It is with deep sadness that we inform our community that three snow leopards at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo have passed away due to complications of COVID-19,” the zoo said in the post. 

“Our leopards, Ranney, Everest, and Makalu, were beloved by our entire community inside and outside of the zoo. This loss is truly heartbreaking, and we are all grieving together,” it added.

The leopards tested positive for the virus on Oct. 13, according to local news outlet the Lincoln Journal Star.

In addition to the leopards, two Sumatran tigers at the zoo tested positive for COVID-19, but they are now recovering. After the leopards and tigers tested positive, staff treated the infected animals with steroids and antibiotics.

The Lincoln Children’s Zoo is home to more than 400 animals, but staff have not reported infections among any other species.

Zoos across the country have been grappling with positive COVID-19 tests among animals during the pandemic. The St. Louis Zoo reported that eight big cats tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 12.