Covid gives gorillas the sniffles - 4th October 2021

At a zoo in Atlanta, in the US state of Georgia, 13 gorillas have tested positive for Covid-19, according to officials.

The great primates are thought to have contracted the virus from a seemingly asymptomatic zookeeper, who'd been wearing the necessary personal protective equipment.

The gorillas' condition came to the attention of staff after displaying tell-tale coronavirus symptoms such as coughing, nasal discharge and loss of appetite, and ensuing tests verified that the apes had come down with the virus.

At Zoo Atlanta, the primates cluster together in groups but all live in close quarters, making isolation of individuals out of the question.

An official statement placed on the zoo's website states that the staff have been attending to the primate giants' medical needs and are poised ready to support them, as and when needed.

One of the majestic creatures who has fallen victim to the virus is Ozzie, a male gorilla who recently celebrated his 60th year. Keepers are keeping a close eye on him, as he is deemed most vulnerable to possible Covid complications.

In February, a zoo in California also felt the virus' full impact, announcing that all eight of its lowland gorillas had been afflicted, including Winston, their 49-year-old male, who fortunately made a complete recovery. At the same zoo in San Diego, California, two endangered snow leopards were reported to be infected in July, but were responding well to treatment.

As soon as the Zoo Atlanta gorillas bounce back to full health, they will be inoculated with the Zoetis coronavirus vaccine, a jab designed specifically for veterinary use in North America. The Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, the Sumatran tigers, African lions and clouded leopard will also be in line for the immunisation.

Sam Rivera, DVM, Senior Director of Animal Health, said: "[The gorillas] are receiving the best possible care, and we are prepared to provide additional supportive care should it become necessary. We are very concerned that these infections occurred, especially given that our safety protocols when working with great apes and other susceptible animal species are, and throughout the pandemic have been, extremely rigorous."