Over the past few weeks, twenty large cats—including four cougars and a Bengal tiger—have perished from bird flu at an animal refuge in the state of Washington.
The Washington-based Wild Felid Advocacy Center posted on Facebook, saying, “This tragedy has deeply affected our team, and we are all grieving the loss of these incredible animals.”
Mammals that consume birds or other goods may also become infected with the deadly virus, which is mostly transferred by respiratory secretions and bird-to-bird contact and is carried by wild birds.
To stop the virus from spreading, the sanctuary is closed to the public and placed under quarantine, according to the statement.
