OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland Zoo vaccinated tigers, Black bears, Grizzly bears, mountain lions and ferrets against COVID-19 this week and is poised to innoculate chimpanzees, fruit bats and pigs.

It's part of a national effort to vaccinate 100 mammalian species, including animals at the San Diego Zoo, following confirmed cases of coronavirus in gorillas living in a safari park.

The animals are being given experimental doses of the Zoetis vaccine, said Dr. Alex Herman, vice president of veterinary services at Oakland Zoo. The company is donating 11,000 doses to 70 zoos across the United States.

"Up until now, we have been using public barriers at certain habitats to ensure social distancing, along with enhanced PPE worn by staff to protect our susceptible species from COVID-19," Herman said in a statement. "We’re happy and relieved to now be able to better protect our animals with this vaccine."

In a video provided by the zoo, staff poked a big Black bear with a syringe and then squirted a few shots of whipped cream down its throat as a reward.

Zoetis’ research and development team, headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has developed other uniquely formulated coronavirus vaccines for cats, dogs, poultry and cattle.

https://www.ktvu.com/news/oakland-zoo-vaccinates-tigers-bears-mountain-lions-chimps-ferrets-bats-and-pigs