Novel Coronavirus poses threat to great apes

Novel Coronavirus poses threat to great apes – Many of our closest relatives, the great apes are already at risk of extinction and very susceptible to human disease. With the coronavirus pandemic wiping several human populations, scientists warn that if the virus affected the great apes it could wipe populations of chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans.

Our closest living relatives share about 98% DNA and are known to be very susceptible to catching respiratory diseases from people.

Till now, no great apes have yet been reported to have contracted COVID-19, therefore the true impact is unknown. However, since many great apes are already at risk of extinction due to forest destruction and poaching, closing national parks, reserves and zoos must be seriously considered. Closing national parks, however, comes with a risk of increased poaching.

In 2008 research revealed the first evidence of virus transmission from humans to wild apes and ever since then, common human respiratory viruses have caused lethal outbreaks in wild great apes that have become used to people.

For the first time, scientists reported the transmission of a human coronavirus to wild chimpanzees in the Tai National Park in Ivory Coast.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is a critical situation for humans, our health, and our economies,” said Thomas Gillespie, at Emory University, US, and a lead author of a letter from 25 experts published in the journal Nature. “It’s also a potentially dire situation for great apes. There is a lot at stake for those in danger of extinction.”

“People who are younger, who may be less at risk for severe illness from Covid-19, are the ones who are more likely to be hiking into the national parks of Africa and Asia to see great apes in the wild,” Gillespie said.

“It would be extremely difficult to monitor whether they were infected with Covid-19 since they may not have obvious symptoms.” As stated in the guardian.

Novel Coronavirus poses threat to great apes

Are Mountain Gorillas at threat from Coronavirus Infection? – Novel Coronavirus poses threat to great apes

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has warned that Mountain gorillas are at risk of catching COVID-19 because they share so much DNA with humans. Mountain gorillas share about 98 percent of their DNA with humans.

They only live in their natural habitats that are in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. In the three countries, the gorillas inhabit 4 national parks which are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in Congo.

Gorilla tourism has been shut down in these parks to protect the mountain gorillas from getting the virus since the trekking activity gets people close to the gorillas.

There is a set 7-meter distance for people from the gorillas but it is only the humans who understand and maintain this but the mountain gorillas don’t and will come closer which may put them at risk of catching any virus.

Mountain gorilla popular has just started on its successful journey of recovery from great loss in numbers due to poachers and other threats.

The number stands at 1,063 and this is the highest population ever since conservation of the mountain gorilla population started.

Till now, they are the only great apes believed to be increasing in number and reclassified from critically endangered to endangered in 2018.

Mountain gorillas are part of the world’s most endangered animal species and very susceptible to human disease. Therefore any negligence on the safety of the mountain gorillas causes devastating effects that can heavily be regrettable.

Oxford Brookes University conducted research regarding the threat tourists pose to the health of the mountain gorillas.

The research is a highlight that shows that there is a likelihood of tourists infecting mountain gorillas with airborne diseases such as flu or cough.

This is based on an incident that happened over 10 years ago where two mountain gorillas might have died of airborne diseases that might have been caused by a tourist.

With great apes possibly at threat from coronavirus infection, there should be a very cautious activity undertaken. The relevant authorities are surely going to take care of it.

For now, let’s stay safe but when the time comes we shall trek gorillas again. To go gorilla trekking with us you will either have the Uganda gorilla safari or Rwanda gorilla tours as short tours or long Uganda safaris or Rwanda tour.

Here are some of the recommended itineraries that tourists can choose when going on the East Africa safari.