Coronavirus: Al Ain Zoo on high alert to protect 4,000 animals from Covid-19 threat

The zoo has been closed to the public since March, but animals remain at risk of contracting the virus

A mhorr gazelle, also known as a dama gazelle, pictured at Al Ain Zoo. The species is on the list of critically endangered creatures. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A Humboldt penguin swims in a lake at the zoo. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A cheetah runs at full pace in a huge enclosure at the zoo. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A stone-curlew hops around in the bird house at Al Ain Zoo. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Cockatiels are among the many bird species kept in the zoo's enclosure. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dark green Nicobarese pigeons are native to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A pair of cheetahs in a large enclosure. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The Arabian sand cat is able to live without drinking water, sustaining itself on the moisure it gets from feeding on prey, including rodents, snakes and lizards. The species has become rare across the Arabian peninsula due to habitat loss and rapid urbanisation. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Ain Zoo is taking extra measures to prevent animals catching coronavirus, despite the facility being closed to the public since March.

There have been few confirmed cases of humans passing Covid-19 on to animals but experts are concerned an outbreak could wipe-out some endangered species.

And with no human visitors to the zoo, disease prevention has become the priority of animal carers.

“We are working differently now to protect the animals and prevent them getting the disease,” said Myyas Al Qarqaz, the zoo’s general curator.

“The risk of transferring from human to animals is low, but we are implementing all the international guidelines to prevent that from happening.

“There are still many unknowns with this virus.

“Primates and carnivores are more vulnerable to coronavirus and would likely display similar symptoms to those seen in humans.”

There have been few confirmed cases of animals testing positive for Covid-19.

According to the US Centres for Disease Control, one of those was a tiger with a respiratory illness at a New York zoo.

Several lions and tigers at the zoo showed viral symptoms after they were exposed to an infected employee.

Meanwhile, conservation efforts in Indonesia to return captured orangutans to the wild have been suspended after several other species were found to be infected with Covid-19.

Rescued orangutans are now quarantined before any attempts to return them to their natural habitat.

Although it has not yet been scientifically established if the great apes can catch the virus, experts are concerned due to their genetic similarity to humans.

Some dogs, cats and minks are also reported to have caught the virus.

While none of the 4,000 or so animals have tested positive at Al Ain zoo, staff there are closely monitoring their health for any symptoms.

The zoo gates have been shut since March 15 under government measures restricting public attractions.

Operations have changed considerably since 2019 when the zoo had five million visitors.

Teams once dedicated to specific animal attractions have been made smaller to encourage social distancing during maintenance rounds.

Personal protective equipment has also become the norm while disinfection routines are regularly carried out.

Mr Al Qarqaz said some of the animals have noticed the lack of human visitors.

“Primates like gorillas and chimpanzees are smart, complicated animals so they will realise something has changed,” he said.

“Those usually in close public contact will notice something is different but we can’t tell if they believe that to be a good or bad thing for them.

“Even with carnivores, the presence of people and movement is considered part of their social management so they will feel something is missing.

“They are usually looking for people and are keen to see them around.”

Elsewhere in the zoo, staff have focused on conservation projects.

Lisa Marie Banfield, head of conservation research and development, has been working from home for six weeks during the zoo’s closure.

“Several of our projects have been focusing on endangered species and their conservation in the wild,” she said.

“We have a partnership with the Sahara Conservation Fund to help the lappet-faced vulture and also the Dama gazelle, one of our main conservation projects. “There are less than 150 in the wild due to loss of habitat, competition with other domestic animals and over hunting.”

Dama gazelle were once found across much of Saharan Africa but are now only seen in Niger, Mali and Chad.

Instability in those countires makes it challenging to complete research on the animals.

The zoo has a breeding programme of two sub species of the Dama gazelle to see if they can produce offspring and boost its numbers.

According to the zoo’s first annual report, there were 1,086 animal births in 2019 with more than 50,000 student visitors to the government-run facility.

It highlights 10 projects at the zoo to protect endangered animals since opening in1982, including the first successful breeding of the Houbara bird, the Arabian oryx and sand cat.