A severe outbreak of avian flu has led to the deaths of 20 big cats, including a Bengal tiger, at the Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Shelton, Washington. The non-profit confirmed the fatalities and reported the closure of the sanctuary for quarantine after the outbreak, as FOX13 Seattle reported.
The Wild Felid Advocacy Center, a local non-profit, has been deeply affected by the deaths of over half of their wild cats. "It’s been one big nightmare. I never thought something like this would happen to us," said Mark Mathews, Co-Founder and Director, to KOMO News. The outbreak occurred around Thanksgiving.
Government agencies, including the Washington State Department of Health, WSDA, and USDA, are investigating the source of the infection according to KGW8. The situation raises concerns for wildlife conservation, as agencies face the possibility of similar outbreaks in the future.
Efforts are focused on containment and prevention, with the center planning a deep clean before considering reopening next year. The avian flu outbreak raises concerns about the vulnerability of wildlife sanctuaries and future disease management. Health authorities confirmed the flu at the center.
