Two Endangered Bengal Tiger Cubs Die Days Apart at Zoo After Contracting Virus
Two Endangered Bengal Tiger Cubs Die Days Apart at Zoo After Contracting Virus

NEED TO KNOW

  • Two tiger cubs at Bandung Zoo died days apart from viral infections

  • The endangered cups showed early symptoms, including vomiting and lethargy

  • The deaths come as the zoo remains closed amid past scrutiny

Two Bengal tiger cubs born last year at an Indonesian zoo have died from viral infections.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), per CBS 19 News, the two males, named Huru and Hara, were born in July at Bandung Zoo to their mother, Jelita. Jelita transmitted Feline Panleukopenia virus (FPV), a highly contagious disease that affects both wild and domestic cats, to the cubs via pregnancy. The infection is especially dangerous for young animals.

A 4-year-old Bengal tiger named Jelita looks after her cub in an enclosure at the Bandung ZooCredit: Timur Matahari/AFP via Getty
A 4-year-old Bengal tiger named Jelita looks after her cub in an enclosure at the Bandung Zoo
Credit: Timur Matahari/AFP via Getty

Per the outlet, Hara died on March 24, two days after becoming noticeably ill. Despite efforts by veterinary staff to save the young feline, Huru died two days later, a spokesperson for the zoo confirmed. Officials said Jelita remains in good health.

FPV is most commonly seen in unvaccinated or improperly vaccinated captive felines, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Both cubs had shown symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy, in the days leading up to their deaths.

Jelita, a Bengal tiger, is seen in her enclosure at Bandung Zoo in Bandung, West Java, IndonesiaCredit: Timur Matahari/AFP via Getty
Jelita, a Bengal tiger, is seen in her enclosure at Bandung Zoo in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
Credit: Timur Matahari/AFP via Getty

The deaths come in the midst of the zoo being closed for months due to what officials have described as internal management issues. The facility has also faced criticism in the past, including in 2017, when activists called for its closure after images of malnourished animals within the facility surfaced online.

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According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, tigers are considered endangered, with fewer than 4,000 remaining in the wild globally. The remaining felines mostly live in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal.

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