Zoo animals are being vaccinated against Covid-19

The animals were tested after zookeepers observed them coughing.

Recently, members of the gorilla care team noticed coughing, nasal discharge, and slight changes in appetite among several members of the gorilla population. When these signs appeared, the animal care and veterinary teams immediately conducted tests for SARS-CoV-2. Faecal samples as well as nasal and oral swabs were sent to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Georgia in Athens.

The zoo subsequently received positive test results indicating that members of its western lowland gorilla troop had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Gorillas at risk of becoming seriously ill were treated with antibodies, and the zoo's entire population of twenty gorillas was tested.

«The teams are monitoring the affected gorillas very closely and are hopeful that they will make a full recovery«, said Sam Rivera, Senior Director of Animal Health at the zoo.

«We are deeply concerned that these infections occurred, especially given that our safety protocols when working with great apes and other vulnerable species are extremely strict and have been in place throughout the entire pandemic«, he added.

While it cannot be said with certainty how the gorillas contracted the virus, the animal care and veterinary teams believe the infections originated from a COVID-positive member of the care team. The team member is fully vaccinated, was wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), and was asymptomatic on the day they came to work.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that 13 of the zoo's gorillas were infected, including the 60-year-old Ozzie, the oldest male gorilla in captivity. Rivera told the newspaper that Ozzie was showing mild symptoms.

Although it is known that humans can transmit the virus to wildlife like gorillas can transmit, and since such cases have also occurred in other zoos, there are currently no data suggesting that zoo animals can transmit the virus to humans. Regardless, visitors to Zoo Atlanta pose no risk to the gorillas and vice versa, as the areas used by visitors are far removed from the animals' habitats.

«We don't feel like we're out of the woods yet«, he added. «We take it day by day.»

Zoo Atlanta said it had received authorization to use the Covid vaccine developed for animals byZoetis and would vaccinate the gorillas once they had recovered.

The vaccine has now arrived, and Zoo Atlanta will vaccinate its Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, Sumatran tigers, African lions, and clouded leopards.

Previously, an experimental vaccine had already been administered to monkeys, fruit bats, tigers, bears, mountain lions, ferrets, and pigs at zoos in Oakland, California.