Tragic Outbreak: Bird Flu Claims Lives of 20 Big Cats in Washington Sanctuary

The Wild Felid Advocacy Center of Washington is mourning the loss of 20 big cats, including a Bengal tiger and several cougars, due to a bird flu outbreak. The sanctuary is now quarantined as officials monitor the situation and prevent further infections.

The Wild Felid Advocacy Center of Washington is reeling from a tragic outbreak of bird flu that has resulted in the deaths of 20 big cats over the past several weeks. Among the deceased were a Bengal tiger, four cougars, five African serval cats, and four bobcats. The sanctuary announced the heartbreaking news on Facebook, lamenting the loss of these majestic animals, whose lives were cut short by the deadly viral infection.

The bird flu virus, primarily transmitted by wild birds, spreads through respiratory secretions, direct contact among birds, and ingestion of infected birds or their products. Mark Mathews, director of the sanctuary, shared his alarm with the New York Times, stating, “We’ve never had anything like it; they usually die basically of old age. Not something like this, it’s a pretty wicked virus.” The deaths, which occurred between late November and mid-December, have left only 17 cats remaining at the facility.

In response to the outbreak, the sanctuary has been placed under quarantine and is closed to the public to mitigate further spread of the virus. The center’s statement described how cats can exhibit subtle initial symptoms but can deteriorate rapidly, often leading to death from pneumonia-like conditions within 24 hours.

As the bird flu continues to spread among domestic poultry and livestock in the United States, it has also raised alarms concerning human health. Since the beginning of April 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 61 human cases of bird flu, primarily presenting with mild symptoms. Nonetheless, the risk to the general public is viewed as low, with no sustained human-to-human transmission detected so far. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency last week over a bird flu outbreak among the state’s dairy cows, reflecting a growing concern regarding the implications of the virus across various species.