India watches for COVID-19 in wild tigers

India is taking precautions to protect its tiger populations from the spread of the novel coronavirus. Authorities are advising wildlife wardens to restrict the movement of people into areas that have wild tigers (Panthera tigris tigris), managers are monitoring tigers for respiratory symptoms and biologists and technicians who handle tigers in the wild must be screened for COVID-19.

The precautions follow the death of a tiger in the wild that was believed — incorrectly, it turns out — to have died from a respiratory ailment. But then a tiger at the Bronx Zoo tested positive for the virus, heightening concerns. Wardens have reported no tigers believed to be infected.

Read more in the New York Times.