Great apes are
feared to be at risk from the new coronavirus because they share between 97%
and 99% of their DNA with humans.
Wednesday 15 April
2020 17:19, UK
COVID-19CORONAVIRUS
Male gorillas. File
pic
Image:
Gorillas share the
vast majority of their DNA with humans
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Gorillas,
chimpanzees and other great apes are at serious risk of catching coronavirus
from humans, a leading conservationist has warned.
Following news that
a four-year-old tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York had tested positive for
COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, Ian Redmond harbours concerns
about other endangered species.
He said all species
of great ape - gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees and orangutans - could be
especially at risk as they share between 97% and 99% of their DNA with humans.
The responses of
seven chimps to music were studied
Image:
Chimpanzees also
fall into the great ape family
"There is
abundant scientific evidence that great apes are susceptible to infection with
human respiratory pathogens," said the celebrated tropical field
biologist.
"Therefore the
great apes are highly likely to be susceptible to [the COVID-19] infection, and
possibly with a higher mortality rate than among humans."
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While many
infectious diseases from Ebola to HIV are known to have been transmitted to
humans from animals, research has long examined how such illnesses might jump
the other way.
Back in 2012, an
Emory University study found that 58% of chimpanzees at sanctuaries in Uganda
and Zambia were carrying drug-resistant strains of staph, which can cause
painful lumps, sores and blisters on human skin.
Mr Redmond, who has
become renowned for his work with gorillas during a 35-year career in
conservation, said introducing new human diseases to great apes has the
potential to be "catastrophic".
"COVID-19 is a
new virus so nothing is known about the mortality rate in non-human apes,"
he said.
"We do know
that some diseases cause a higher mortality in closely related species, and
that risks are greater for gorillas and chimpanzees and bonobos because they
love in social groups."
Coronavirus:
Infection numbers in real time
Coronavirus: Infection
numbers in real time
As chairman of the
Ape Alliance, a worldwide coalition of more than 100 conservation
organisations, Mr Redmond is suggesting that great ape tourism should be
suspended and field research reduced.
Many ape tourism and
research sites have already taken steps to reduce the risk of COVID-19
infection, with visitor opportunities across the likes of Indonesia and Uganda
having been halted.
Those working with
apes are also adhering to an increase in the minimum distance they need to
keep.
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