The Reid Park Zoo temporarily closed the camel ride operation after one of the camels was diagnosed with a bacterial infection Monday.
The Corneybacterium pseduotuberculosis bacteria rarely causes infections in humans, but can be transmitted to horses, goats, cattle, and camels by insects or contaminated soil or feed, the zoo said in a news release Tuesday.
The infected camel is being “treated aggressively with antibiotics,” the zoo said, but “in the interest of extreme caution” the four-camel operation was closed and the camels were quarantined.
Due to the rarity of human infections, visitors and camel riders do not need to be concerned, the zoo said. The rest of the zoo is open.
