A 16-year old Amur tiger housed at Grand Rapids’ John Ball Zoo has tested positive for COVID-19. Nika tested positive and was showing signs of illness the same day she was scheduled to receive her second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Most of the zoos large and small carnivores are either completely vaccinated of scheduled for their second dose.
While the staff follows safety protocols including the use of masks and vaccinations, it’s believed the virus was spread by a pre-symptomatic, positive member of the zoo’s animal care team.
Zoo officials are cautiously optimistic Nika will make a full recovery.