Zoo gorillas catch Covid from keeper

As many as eight gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park are presumed to have caught Covid-19 from a human handler after one of the animals tested positive, marking the first known transmission of the virus to apes.

Three among the band of critically endangered western lowland gorillas at the sprawling US wildlife park have shown symptoms of the respiratory virus, such as coughing, though none appears severely ill, and all are expected to fully recover, the zoo said.

Laboratory analysis of a fecal sample collected last week from one of two gorillas initially seen coughing detected the presence of the virus, zoo spokesman Andrew James said.

The gorillas are believed to have contracted the virus from an asymptomatic staff member, despite adherence to strict bio-security protocols.

"Aside from some congestion and coughing, the gorillas are doing well," Lisa Peterson, executive director of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, said. "The troop remains quarantined together and are eating and drinking. We are hopeful for a full recovery."

The coronavirus has also been found in a number of other wild-animal species in captivity, including several lions and tigers at the Bronx Zoo in New York and four lions at the Barcelona Zoo in Spain.