Gorillas at Californian zoo test positive for virus
SEVERAL gorillas at San Diego Zoo Safari Park in California have tested positive for coronavirus, in what is believed to be the first known cases among such primates in the United States and possibly the world.
The park’s executive director, Lisa Peterson, told the Associated Press that eight gorillas that live together at the park are believed to have the virus and several have been coughing. It appears the infection came from a member of the park’s wildlife care team who also tested positive for the virus, but has been asymptomatic and wore a mask at all times around the gorillas.
The park has been closed to the public since December 6 as part of the state of California’s lockdown efforts to curb coronavirus cases. Veterinarians are closely monitoring the gorillas and they will remain in their habitat at the zoo, Ms Peterson said. “Aside from some congestion and coughing, the gorillas are doing well,” she added.
For now, the gorillas are being given vitamins, fluid and food but no specific treatment for the virus.
While other wildlife has contracted coronavirus, from minks to tigers, this is the first known instance of transmission to great apes.
Wildlife experts have expressed concern about coronavirus infecting gorillas, an endangered species that share 98.4% of their DNA with humans and are inherently social animals.