Bird Flu Kills Wild Animals in Arizona Zoo, California Declares State of Emergency

A cheetah, mountain lion, swamphen, kookaburra, and an Indian goose all died after contracting bird flu (H5N1) at the Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium, Maricopa County Department of Public Health officials reported this week. A white tiger also tested positive, but currently is responding positively to treatment and expected to make a full recovery.

More than 25 employees of the zoo have been exposed to the H5N1 virus, which is a respiratory illness with a high fatality rate in animals. Those in close or prolonged contact with infected animals are at a higher risk of contracting the virus.

This is now the third time bird flu has infected animals in Arizona—that we know of—with the other incident taking place at a commercial farm 100 miles southeast of the zoo. Wastewater in Coconino County, which is about 190 miles northeast of the zoo, has also tested positive for the virus.

The employees are currently being monitored for symptoms of H5N1, which has infected 61 people since April 2024, and its first documented severe case being confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) this past week.

The recent death of these animals at the Wildlife World Zoo in Arizona has brought H5N1 back into the spotlight, but this tragedy is only a symptom of a much larger problem.

Bird Flu: A Global Crisis

Despite its name, it’s clear H5N1 is not only a threat to avian species. Previously covered primarily for spreading quickly among chickens in factory farms and shared infection with wild birds, it has spread to pigs and cows, marine mammals, and even polar bears. The virus’s rapid spread highlights an unsettling truth: human activity, from factory farming to wildlife captivity, is exacerbating this crisis.

Much like factory farms, zoos, with their concentration of animals in confined spaces, act as breeding grounds for pathogens like H5N1, but the problem doesn’t stop there. When viruses like H5N1 mutate and spread from captive animals to wildlife, they further endanger already fragile ecosystems.

Factory Farming: an Incubator of H5N1

The root of severe crises like this one often connects back to factory farming. Industrial animal agriculture confines millions of animals in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions—the perfect breeding ground for diseases like bird flu to thrive and adapt. Since 2022, outbreaks of bird flu strains have led to the killing of more than 80 million birds on factory farms in the United States. The spread of H5N1 avian influenza, which has hit Europe and the Americas hard since 2021, has been described as “the largest-ever” continuous outbreak of the disease.

Due to factory farms, California officials have declared a state of emergency over the spread of bird flu, which has been infecting dairy cows in the state. Type A H5N1 had been detected in dairy cows since March of 2024, and has now spread to sixteen states and was detected in 20 percent of the milk supply. California officials have found bird flu in at least 650 herds throughout the state, representing roughly 75 percent of all affected dairy herds in the United States.

This is not only dangerous to the wild birds who may drink from infected cows’ water supply, but to drivers who transport animals—and to the other animals those drivers might come in contact with.

What Needs to Change

The Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium deaths are a wake-up call, further proving we need to reevaluate our relationship with animals and the systems that exploit them. Here’s how we can start:

End Factory Farming

Transitioning to plant-based diets and reducing reliance on industrial animal agriculture can drastically decrease the risk of zoonotic diseases like H5N1. Send a quick email to your federal representatives urging they co-sponsor the Farm System Reform Act and the Mink VIRUS Act.

Rethink Zoos

True conservation doesn’t involve confining animals to cages. Sanctuaries that prioritize the animals’ well-being and focus on protecting them in their natural habitats are the way forward. Learn how to make your vacations wildlife-friendly.

Protect Wildlife Habitats

Preserving and restoring natural ecosystems reduces human-wildlife interaction, mitigating the risk of disease spread. Check out our Wildlife Heritage Areas which combine the preservation of wildlife habitats with wildlife-friendly vacations.

A Future Without Exploitation

The H5N1 bird flu crisis is a stark reminder of the consequences of exploiting animals for profit and entertainment. Every life lost—from the animals at Wildlife World Zoo to Antarctica’s king penguins—is a call to action.

We have the power to protect animals by ending practices that put them and ourselves at risk. Now more than ever, we need to rethink the way we interact with all animals. Join the millions of people calling for an end to animal suffering today.

Act Now