Gorillas at San Diego wildlife park stricken with Covid-19 after apparently being infected by zookeeper
‘No coughing, no runny noses anymore’, says zoo’s executive director after animals receive treatment
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Several gorillas at a wildlife park in San Diego are thought to be among the first such primates to contract the coronavirus, after they tested positive.
A zookeeper was said to have passed the virus on to the animals, according to an executive at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The employee had also recently tested positive for Covid-19.
Lisa Peterson, the park’s executive director, told The San Diego Union-Tribune that eight western lowland gorillas were likely exposed, and were being closely monitored. They are all expected to make a full recovery.
Officials from the US Department of Agriculture National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed positive tests in three of the gorillas, after all eight’s faeces were tested at the park in Escondido, California.
The faeces tests were carried out after two gorillas started coughing two weeks ago, just days after a zoopkeeper tested positive.
According to Ms Peterson, the animals are no longer showing symptoms. "We're not seeing any of that lethargy. No coughing, no runny noses anymore. It feels to us like we've turned the corner," she told the Tribune.
A 49-year-old silverback named Winston who had pneumonia, as well as heart disease, received antibiotics and an antibody treatment to boost his immune response to Covid-19.
Some of the gorillas will also receive a Covid-19 vaccine not permitted for use in people, the Tribune reported.
"The hope is that we would be able to vaccinate wildlife that would be susceptible to illness and then prevent them from ever catching it," Ms Peterson said.
According to the report, the gorillas caught the same “California strain” of the virus that has been recorded in at least 14 Covid-19 cases in San Diego County and 446 infections statewide.
Over 3 million people have caught Covid-19 in California, and 37,500 deaths have been recorded since the pandemic began in the state.
Additional reporting by the Associated Press.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments