COVID-19 is a disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.  Although COVID-positive people can infect tigers and lions in zoos by close contact involved with caring for them, cats are not easily infected, and SARS-CoV-2 is not known to occur in any population of any wild cat species in nature. It is extremely unlikely that wild cats can transmit the virus that causes COVID-19 to humans.

On April 5, the Bronx Zoo and USDA announced that three veterinary labs confirmed that Nadia, a four-year-old Malayan tiger, tested positive for COVID-19. Nadia, who was first introduced to Animal Planet audiences as a cub on THE ZOO in 2017, had a cough and a mild loss of appetite and is expected to make a full recovery. In a special episode of THE ZOO on Saturday, Apr. 11 at 9PM ET/PT, audiences will get an update on Nadia and six other big cats showing similar symptoms at the zoo, by Bro...

New York, April 10, 2020 – The following update was issued by the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo: We are pleased to report that since the USDA and Bronx Zoo made the announcement on Sunday that one of our female Malayan tigers tested positive for COVID-19, her condition continues to improve, along with the other three tigers and three African lions that exhibited similar symptoms. Nadia and the other cats are behaving normally, eating well, and their coughing is greatly re...

Bronx NY, April 5, 2020 -- The following information was released today by the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo: Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, has tested positive for COVID-19. She, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover. This positive COVID-19 test for the tiger was confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, based in Ames, Iowa. We tested the cat out o...

Scientists track a tigress in Russian Far East and learn there is lots of running around, wolfing down big meals, and then back home to watch the kids.

All You Need to Know about the Aug. 17-28 Wildlife Trade Conference in Geneva, Switzerland

WCS congratulates the Indian government for expanding protected areas in the wildlife-rich Western Ghats region to safeguard populations of endangered lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus), critically endangered Kolar leaf-nosed bats (Hipposideros hypophyllus), and other species.

“WCS is grateful to Senators John Barrasso and Tom Carper and Reps. Alan Lowenthal and Don Young for their leadership on the WILD Act, and to Senators Lisa Murkowski and Maria Cantwell for including it in the bipartisan lands package. By extending the MSCF for 5 more years, the Congress is renewing its longstanding support for protecting the world’s iconic species—elephants, rhinos, tigers, great apes, marine turtles, and now tortoises and freshwater turtles.” 

– John Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President for Public Affairs

A new WCS-led study published in the journal Biological Conservation says the future of tigers in Asia is linked the path of demographic transition—for humans. 

A new report on jaguars from WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) warns of a rising demand for teeth, claws, skins and other body parts which could imperil jaguars in the same way tigers are threatened across Asia.