Two Virginia Zoo tigers test positive for COVID-19
Stubbley and Osceola were tested after caretakers noticed them wheezing and coughing. They were taken out of exhibit, but they re expected to make a full recovery.
Credit: Virginia Zoo Author: Savannah Haugdahl (WVEC) Updated: 12:46 PM EDT April 14, 2021
NORFOLK, Va. The Virginia Zoo s two Malayan tigers, Stubbley and Osceola, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, according to a zoo spokesperson.
The tests were preliminary according to the zoo s release, and caretakers were working to confirm the results with a second test.
Stubbley and Osceola were examined after caretakers noticed them wheezing and coughing.
Virginia Zoo welcomes new baby giraffe, first baby born at Zoo in 2021
Virginia Zoo
and last updated 2021-01-15 10:50:21-05
NORFOLK, Va. - The Virginia Zoo welcomed its first baby born in 2021, a Masai giraffe calf, on Monday, January 11.
The female calf, the eighth born to mom Imara and thirteenth for dad Billy, weighed 148.5 pounds at birth and stood 6 feet 1 inch tall.
According to the Virginia Zoo, its Animal Care Staff had been preparing for the calf s arrival, and Zoo veterinarian Dr. Tara Reilly performed a neonatal exam 24 hours after the birth. Mom and baby are bonding, and the calf is nursing well, the Zoo said in a statement. She appears strong and is already learning to run!
reporter: the first one came out quickly. the girl may have stayed in the longest of the four. the other two boys did swim a good distance along the wall. all four succeeded, zookeepers say. even some neighbors came out to see what the commotion is about. they re coming out into the open environment for the first time ever. so they re being hit on all five senses. reporter: animal care staff placed the cubs into the water and helped guide the cubs toward land. by passing the test, they will prove to the animal keepers that they are ready to safely explore the outdoor habitat and ready to be seen by the public. the gloves were puncture resistant, so that protects me when i m getting a cub out of the water. if they turn around and bite me, they can t break through. passing to us means that they all kept their heads above water, even the ones that submerged completely, they pulled their heads out. reporter: they were born march 2 to a 9-year-old mother.
released her quite quickly. for that we re thankful to the dolphin. but her mom says the theme park didn t think it was any big deal at all. they didn t seem to think it was a big deal and i think that was probably intentional on their part to not alarm us. not that we wanted to be alarmed. that they didn t call over a doctor. they called over a first aid responder looking back i don t think was really well-versed in animal wounds because she told us there was not risk of infection which we now know is not true. martha: what do you think, folks? seaworld is issuing the following statement, quote. nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our guests employees and animals. educators and animal care staff were at the attraction when this happened and immediately connected with the family. seaworld is a great place. lots of fun to go. arthur aidala, fox news legal analyst and andrew smiley, personal injury attorney. welcome to you.
mistake, raising that small plate of dolphin food in the air out of excitement. the park warns people not to do that. her souvenir, a set of teeth marks the size of dimes. her parents are furious, claiming seaworld employees trivialized the attack, telling the family it was no big deal. something needs to change. this wasn t the first incident of its kind. it s not going to be the last. she isn t going to be the only child that lifts that plate. reporter: similar incidents happened twice back in 2006. still sea world says it has no plans to change this attraction. in a statement, sea world officials said, nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our guests, employees, and animals. educators and animal care staff were at the attraction when it happened and immediately connected with the family. the thomases say they have no plans to sue seaworld, but they are urging the park to make things safer. we got this video. let s make it public. and try to put pressure