Gorillas at San Diego Zoo Test Positive for Coronavirus

Yesterday, January 11, 2021 (Monday), the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has released a statement on their website that a gorilla troop at the park was confirmed positive for coronavirus by the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). And, they have suspected that “the gorillas acquired the infection from an asymptomatic staff member.”

According to the park’s statement, two gorillas started coughing on January 6.

“Members of the Gorilla Troop at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.”

-San Diego Zoo Safari Park Statement

In a Twitter post of San Diego Zoo Safari Park today, January 12, 2021 (Tuesday), the park wrote that the gorillas are doing well.

“Members of our gorilla troop tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Aside from some congestion and coughing, the gorillas are doing well and we are hopeful for a full recovery.”

-San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Twitter

Members of our gorilla troop tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Aside from some congestion and coughing, the gorillas are doing well and we are hopeful for a full recovery. Read the full update: https://t.co/HIezWKBFxG pic.twitter.com/MAkPYPzxWP

— San Diego Zoo Safari Park (@sdzsafaripark) January 11, 2021

The park added, “Given current circumstances, San Diego Zoo Global initiated the process of testing fecal samples from the gorillas for SARS-CoV-2 through the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CA HFS).”

Furthermore, the preliminary tests detected the presence of the virus in the gorilla troop on January 8.  And the “test results confirm the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in some of the gorillas and does not definitively rule out the presence of the virus in other members of the troop.

Also, in a statement, Lisa Peterson, the Executive Director of San Diego Zoo Safari Park said that “aside from some congestion and coughing, the gorillas are doing well.”

She added, “the troop remains quarantined together and are eating and drinking. We are hopeful for a full recovery.”

Furthermore, it was stated on the park’s statement that “this is the first known instance of natural transmission to great apes and it is unknown if they will have any serious reaction.”

Since December 6, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has been closed to the public. 

Read the full statement of San Diego Zoo Safari Park, HERE. 

For More News and Updates

Looking for more news and updates? Feel free to explore our BCG website and our official Facebook page. You may also check out our official BCG YouTube channel to catch a variety of video content.

Source: San Diego Zoo Safari Park