At least 13 western lowland gorillas from the Atlanta zoo are being treated after testing positive for COVID-19, according to zoo officials.
“Recently, Gorilla Care Team members observed coughing, nasal discharge, and minor changes in appetite in several members of the gorilla population,” the zoo said in a statement. “Fecal samples and nasal and oral swab samples were sent to the Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Georgia, where they tested presumptively positive.”
Zoo Atlanta said the gorillas are receiving the best possible care and the staff is ready to accommodate any necessary additional care.
GROWING NUMBER OF ZOOS VACCINATING ANIMALS AT HIGH RISK FOR COVID-19
“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,” said Sam Rivera, DVM, senior director of animal health.
Zoo officials maintain the virus was transmitted via a fully vaccinated staff member. They also said this staff member was in full personal protective gear.
Update on our gorilla population: Zoo Atlanta has received presumptive positive test results indicating that members of its western lowland gorilla troops are positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. https://t.co/TugKKupxnV pic.twitter.com/ba5fpZ6MdC
— ZooATL (@ZooATL) September 10, 2021
“The infections occurred in an area of the Zoo where COVID safety protocols are already at their most stringent,” the report said.
Officials said that although people can spread COVID-19 to animals, no available evidence suggests that zoo animals can transfer the disease to people.
Still, Zoo Atlanta stated that additional preventive measures have now been instituted and visitors do not pose a transmission threat to gorillas or vice versa.
One infected gorilla is Ozzie, 60, reportedly the oldest male gorilla in captivity.
To help the recovery and mitigate further infections, the zoo will begin vaccinations on its animals.
“The vaccine has arrived, and Zoo Atlanta will vaccinate its Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, Sumatran tigers, African lions, and clouded leopard,” Zoo Atlanta reported. “As the gorillas recover, they will also receive the vaccine.”
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Zoo officials said they are hopeful that all the infected gorillas will completely recover.
