Twenty big cats, including a half-Bengal tiger and four cougars, died between late November and mid-December at a sanctuary in Washington State after becoming infected with bird flu, according to the facility's director.
Mark Mathews, the founder and director of the Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Shelton, Wash., stated that this outbreak was unprecedented, saying, 'We've never had anything like it; they usually die basically of old age.'
Mathews explained the severity of the virus, noting, 'Not something like this, it’s a pretty wicked virus.' He expressed concern as three other cats had recovered, yet one remained in critical condition.
The sanctuary implemented strict measures stating, 'the facility was under quarantine and would be closed until further notice while the habitats were sanitized' after several cats showed symptoms and began to die.
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