Several lions and tigers at the Smithsonian's National Zoo have tested

[elleng]

"presumptive positive" for the virus that causes COVID-19, zoo officials say.

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/smithsonian-zoo-cats-test-presumptive-positive-for-covid-19/65-19179987-17c6-4e23-b442-6e82f35dc6d8?

[I_UndergroundPanther]

1. Oh no. Sekhmet

Protect the lions and tigers that tested positive for covid and heal them. Take thier suffering away.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. I wouldn't want to be the zoo worker who stuck that big Q-tip up their snouts. NT

[GopherGal]

3. Was thinking about the "presumptive positive"

and decided that maybe they had trouble finding someone to stick the extra-long Q-tip up their noses the *second* time.

[Princess Turandot]

5. There's now a test that uses the animal's stool (I think) to look for COVID exposure..

When this happened at the Bronx Zoo in April of 2020, Nadia, the first tiger to show symptoms such as coughing and a reduced appetite, was sedated in order to get a nasal sample for an animal version of the full blown test. For the other tigers and lions, they used a stool test developed by one of the major vet schools.

Seven of the zoo's lions and tigers tested positive, although none of the other big cats did. They all recovered fully.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

7. Thanks

I was scared the lions and tigers with covid might die.

[tblue37]

4. George Conway: "def would not volunteer to swab this one"

Link to tweet

[slightlv]

6. Oh, No! Not all of them!

Sekhmet, warrior goddess, goddess of healing, heal your beloved ones from this awful pandemic. Bastet, grant them the power to overcome this disease and feel their playful selves once again. Gather together all the energy we two-leggeds who want to help and use it as you see fit.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

8. Slightlv

Beautiful.

Sekhmet has given you beautiful words today

Sa Sekhem Sahu!