Nine great apes, including four orang-utans and five bonobos, have become the first animals on the planet to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The experimental vaccine, which had been devised for cats and dogs, has been administered in two subsequent doses to the nine great apes at the San Diego Zoo. The process of vaccination started in January 2021 and followed in Feb, with the last shots given in March. The vaccine, as per zoo spokeswoman ‘Darla Davis, has not shown any adverse reactions in the apes.
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The nine great apes were chosen among other animals in the zoo as they were potentially vulnerable to contracting the virus and were hereby easy to inoculate.
What Triggered the Apes Vaccination?
The vaccination move came after an eight-animal troop of Gorillas contracted the Coronavirus is an affiliate of San Diego Zoo, Safari Park. This was the first-ever instance of virus transmission to the ape’s species in the world. The gorillas are believed to have caught the virus through an asymptomatic staff member at the Safari Park. Those 8 gorillas are recovering now and in stable condition. One of them, a 48-year –old male “Silverback,” named Winston suffered from heart disease and pneumonia as well, but he’s said to be in good condition now. They were, however, not vaccinated later as the zoo officials believe that they have developed the antibodies to fight the virus now.
The Nine Great Apes that were vaccinated also include a female 28-year old Sumatran Orangutan named ‘Karen’. Karen was in the news years ago when she became the first ape to undergo open-heart surgery. She garnered headlines at the zoo back in 1994 and is now a part of the vaccinated recipients making history.
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The experimental vaccine has been made available by a veterinary pharmaceutical company, Zoetis, which was not yet tested on apes. However, in the past, many vaccines have been administered across different species. The apes at the zoo also receive the human flu and measles vaccine, as told by ‘Nadine Lamberski,’ the chief conservation and wildlife officer whose alliance owns the Safari park and San Diego Zoo.
Nine Great Apes that were vaccinated show no Visible Side Effects
The zoo is satisfied with the vaccination outcomes for the nine great apes and is planning to soon vaccinate three more bonobos and a Gorilla. This family of species, in addition to chimpanzees, are the closest to human biology, which puts them at an increased risk of contracting the virus from humans themselves or from one another. Even the veterinarians who work in the zoo and other staff members have been vaccinated now, told Lamberski.
Although the animals are used to taking the flu shots, the staff distracted them from the needle by making them busy with treats. Zoo officials told that there were some apes who were not keen on sitting through the shots. The zoo staff will try again when the animals are more comfortable.
