Two gorillas at the San Diego Zoo have crowns …

Two gorillas at the zoo San Diego, in Southern California, dwere positive for the coronavirus. Animals they have been quarantined.

“We have two gorillas from the San Diego Zoo who have tested positive for COVID-19,” said US state governor Gavin Newsom, adding that there is a third one showing symptoms. “We are in the process of confirming the source of the infection,” he said.

It’s him first known case of transmission of covid-19 in these mammals. Months ago, tigers at the New York Zoo were infected with coronavirus.

“Other than a little congestion and cough, gorillas are fine.”, said Lisa Peterson, executive director of the San Diego Zoo, one of the largest wildlife parks in the world. “The members of the group (gorilla) are all quarantined together and eat and drink. We are optimistic about their full recovery“, he clarified.

Studies have shown that some primate species can contract the covid-19 virus“But this is the first known case of natural transmission to great apes and it is not known whether they will show a serious reaction,” the zoo statement said.

The humans and other primates have a very similar genome, and gorillas have about 98% of their DNA in common. In Africa, chimpanzees and gorillas have been wiped out by the Ebola virus.

The San Diego Zoo is currently closed to the public due to the pandemic and its officials
suspect the gorillas were infected by “an asymptomatic employee” that he however followed the precautionary measures recommended by the health authorities and wore a mask when he was near the animals.