LIBERATION OF THE WILDERNESS OF WILD FELI DS BRED UNDER HUMAN CUSTODY- DANGER OF RELEASE OF VIRAL-INFECTIONS

There are several felidae amongst the numerous endangered species. Mea ns of aiding survival are the reintroduction to the wild of animals br ed under the auspices of man and their relocation from densely populat ed to thinly populated areas. It is unlikely that the dangers of such reintroduction or relocation projects have been examined sufficiently in respect to the risks of virus infections confronting individuals ke pt in zoos or similar situations. This report presents three examples to Illustrate that accidental virus infections may be expected to occu r when relocating and reintroducing wild cats. The first example is th e reintroduction of captive snow leopards. Zoo bred snow leopards may be infected with FIV, a virus infection that is highly unlikely to occ ur in the original himalayan highlands of Tibet and China. A second ex ample is of several; cases of FIP that occured in European wild cats b red in groups in captivity. The third example mentioned is the relocat ion of lions from East Africa where all the commonly known feline viru ses are wide-spread to the Etosha National Park. In the latter, virus infections such as FIV, FCV and FPV do not occur. The indiscriminate r elocation and reintroduction of the wild cats mentioned here harbours a potential of undesirable consequences.