Gorillas test positive for Covid-19 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Reuters/Los Angeles
Photo: Reuters
The gorillas are believed to have contracted the virus from an asymptomatic staff member, despite adherence to strict bio-security protocols
As many as eight gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park are presumed to have contracted Covid-19 from a human handler after one of the animals tested positive, marking the first known transmission of the virus to apes, zoo officials said on Monday.
Three among the band of critically endangered western lowland gorillas at the sprawling wildlife park have shown symptoms of the respiratory virus, such as coughing, though none appears severely ill, and all are expected to fully recover, the zoo said in online statements.