West Nile virus (WNV) is known to cause disease and death in humans and various animals worldwide. WNV has circulated in Germany since 2018. In 2020, four birds tested positive for the WNV genome at Zoopark Erfurt (Thuringia). Moreover, virus neutralization assays detected neutralizing antibodies (nAb) against WNV in 28 birds. In addition, nAb against WNV and Usutu virus (USUV) were found in 14 birds. To protect valuable animals and to reduce the risk of viral transmission from birds to humans, we performed a field study on WNV vaccination at the zoo. To conduct the study, 61 birds from the zoo were categorized into three groups and subjected to a vaccination regimen, where each bird received either 1.0 mL, 0.5 mL, or 0.3 mL of a commercial inactivated WNV vaccine three times. The vaccinations were administered at three-week intervals, or as per modified vaccination schedules. Furthermore, 52 birds served as non-vaccinated controls. Adverse vaccination reactions were absent. The greatest increase in nAb titres was observed in birds that received 1.0 mL of vaccine. However, pre-existing antibodies to WNV and USUV appeared to have a major effect on antibody development in all groups and in all bird species, whereas sex and age had no effect. After vaccination, no death was detected in vaccinated birds for more than 1 year.

A 6‐year‐old, male North Sulawesi babirusa (Babyrousa celebensis) kept at a zoological institution, suffered a tusk fracture of unknown origin, associated with pulp exposure and a relapse of the fracture after 10 months. In other tusked animals, endodontic therapy has been reported to treat acute pulp exposure and to preserve the growing tusk. Therefore, a partial pulpectomy was attempted in the babirusa, combined with systemic antibiotic and anti‐inflammatory therapy. Under general anaesthesia, the partial pulpectomy was performed twice, followed by a direct pulp capping with mineral trioxide aggregate and closure of the coronal pulp opening using glass ionomer cement and composite. Partial pulpectomies have been performed in babirusas before, but using mineral trioxide aggregate as pulp capping is a novel treatment regimen. It was performed without complications, and the tusk continued to grow. Over a follow‐up period of 14 months, the tusk was successfully preserved in absence of any relapse or instability.