Two days later, 12-year-old Hari showed the same symptoms.
Smears were taken and the results were positive for COVID-19, Suzi Marsitawati of the Jakarta Parks and Forestry Agency said in a statement on Sunday.
The tigers were immediately treated with antibiotics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs, and multivitamins. After 10-12 days they felt better and have now recovered under close observation in the Ragunan Zoo in Jakarta.
“Your condition is good now. Your appetite has returned and you are active,” said Marsitawati.
Sumatran tigers are the most critically endangered tiger subspecies and are under increasing pressure as their jungle habitats shrink.
Marsitawati said the Jakarta government is trying to find out how the tigers got infected as the zoo closed under coronavirus restrictions. There was no infection from the caretakers and other zoo workers, she said.
Indonesia has become Asia’s hotspot with a record number of coronavirus cases in the region.
(Copyright 2021 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)