Eight gorillas at the San Diego Zoo have made a full recovery after contracting Covid-19 last month, the zoo said.
The western lowland gorillas have captured the West Coast variant of the coronavirus, zoo officials say, despite team members adhering to all recommended biosecurity measures.
All eight gorillas at the zoo were isolated after diagnosis, with some showing symptoms such as “light coughing, constipation, runny nose and periodic lethargy,” the zoo said in an online update.
Zoo officials value the recovery of the gorillas with “the highest standard of care” provided by the zoo’s veterinary team, wildlife care professionals, and collaboration with a wide variety of colleagues and partners.
“We are so grateful for the tremendous concern and support we received while the troop recovered safely,” said Lisa Peterson, executive director of San Diego Zoo Safari Park. “We are thrilled to share the joy this beloved troop brings to our community and our guests.”
San Diego Zoo has committed to sharing documentation of the coronavirus in its gorillas in the hope that it will help provide “important information about scientific understanding of the virus and its effects on great apes.”
The gorillas are now on display for visitors.