Why Great Apes Are Getting COVID Vaccines at a U.S. Zoo
On 3/5/21 at 12:17 PM EST
Great apes at a California zoo have been given an experimental coronavirus vaccine following an outbreak earlier this year.
Nine apes, five bonobos and four orangutans, at San Diego Zoo (SDZ) were given two doses of an experimental vaccine in January and February in order to protect them against the disease, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) said on Wednesday.
The doses, developed by the veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis, were tailored for animal usage and administered to the great apes after zoo officials suspected gorillas became sick after coming into contact with an asymptomatic zookeeper who later tested positive for the virus.