The Toronto Zoo is planning to vaccinate its animals against COVID-19
For months, Toronto residents have been highly encouraged to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, but now, even some of the city’s animals could be getting the jab.
Toronto Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong told CTV News Toronto on Thursday that they’re waiting for Canadian approval of a COVID-19 vaccine currently being administered to American zoo animals.
“What we've seen in accredited zoos in the United States is a vaccine being deployed that is providing a level of protection [against COVID-19] ... We definitely are looking to add this tool to our toolbox and add this extra level of protection for animals as soon as it’s approved for use in Canada,” he said.
DeJong says he’s looking forward to the extra level of protection, especially for the zoo’s more vulnerable animals.
“Animals like gorillas and orangutans, which are so similar to us as humans, in some cases are prone to respiratory illness — adding this extra level of protection is so key,” he said.
“We have North America's oldest orangutan in our care [and] a 29-year-old orangutan who's pregnant.”
DeJong said that the zoo will aim to vaccinate all primates, big cats, swine, bats and mustelidae — a family of mammals including weasels, badgers, otters, ferrets, martens, minks and wolverines, among others.
“There's 140 of them here that are on the list that we want to again get those shots and get them inoculated,” he said.
When the vaccine is approved, DeJong says he is confident that his team will have no issues administering it.
“The great part about the animals in our care is a lot of them are actually trained to receive injections,” he said.
“We know our team and our animals will be ready as soon as those approvals are in place.”
The Toronto Zoo currently requires all eligible visitors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.