Members of the Gorilla Troop are seen in their habitat on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, Calif. Several gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park have tested positive for the coronavirus in what is believed to be the first known cases among such primates in the United States and possibly the world.
(Ken Bohn/San Diego Zoo Safari Park via AP)SDZG 2021 © PERMITTED USE: Images and video(s) are provided to the media solely for reproduction, public display, and distributiSAN DIEGO – Several gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park have tested positive for the coronavirus in what is believed to be the first known cases among such primates in the United States and possibly the world.
Veterinarians are closely monitoring the gorillas and they will remain in their habitat at the park, north of San Diego, Peterson said.
The safari park tested feces of the troop of gorillas after two apes began coughing Jan. 6.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park plans to share what it learns with health officials, conservationists and scientists to develop steps to protect gorillas in the forests of Africa.