Orangutan

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It is not known how The Virus may have an effect on Great Apes , such as gorillas

apes on lockdown against The Threat of the coronavirus.

Gorilla tourism in Africa , during the retreat spaces for apes such as Orang-Utans, have been closed to The Public .

It is not known whether people contract can monkeys, The Virus , but there are growing fears that of our closest living relatives may be At Risk as well.

in This Week .

New measures were for the protection of the big cats and their caregivers.

Dr. Kirsten Gilardi is the chief veterinary officer for Gorilla Doctors provides veterinary treatment to gorillas in the forests of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"We do not know whether it is infected mountain gorillas; we have not seen any evidence of that," She Said . "But since the mountain gorillas are susceptible to human pathogens, we know that they can develop respiratory disease. "

Dr Eddy, head veterinarian in the DRC, the treatment of an injured gorilla (before the outbreak)

Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are an Endangered Species of apes, the only in the forests of Rwanda, Uganda and the DR Congo. All three countries have seen human cases of the coronavirus, with gorilla tourism is currently interrupted.

Social distancing,

The work of vets and Rangers, caring for wild gorillas continues, but with additional precautions. "Much of what we practice now, in regard to social distancing and self quarantine, are at The Heart of the recommendations for the protection of Great Apes , as well," said Dr. Gilardi, who is also a veterinary professor at the University of California, Davis .

The new virus is part of the coronavirus family, which also includes the Common Cold , Sars, and Mers

before the outbreak, people were asked to stay seven meters from the gorillas at all times. The new guidelines, the calls of The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a minimum distance of 10 m from the apes, visits by the people are reduced to the minimum necessary to ensure their health and safety. No person who is sick, or who should be allowed to be in contact with a sick person in the previous 14 days, in the vicinity of them.

habitat loss and poaching are major threats for the survival of the Great Apes , but viruses are also a concern. Infectious diseases are now one of the three top threats to some of the Great Apes groups. Past research has shown that chimpanzees can contract the cold virus, while the Ebola virus is thought to be thousands of chimpanzees and gorillas in Africa are being killed.

Orang-Utan sanctuaries are closed said

Serge Wich, professor of Primate biology at Liverpool John Moores University, UK, that many governments had closed tourism with the apes, while the researchers and shrines were additional measures.

He Said : "We don't know if you are infected will be able to, what the health effects would be, but obviously in view of the health effects for the people, it is a risk, we don't want to be with the apes, so these precautions everyone takes, are an important step to try this risk to reduce. "

the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre on The Island of Borneo is one of the many sanctuaries for Great Apes , which has closed its doors to The Public .

Susan Sheward, founder and Chairperson of the Orangutan Appeal UK, said in a statement: "This disease could be fatal to take for the already endangered Orang-Utan is, it is a risk we can't afford to. OAUK will do everything to ensure that the Orang-Utans in Sepilok, stay healthy and safe. "

There are four types of apes live in today: gorillas (Africa ) Bonobo (Africa ), orangutans (SE Asia), and chimpanzees (Africa ). The people are closely related to the Great Apes , share a common ancestor several million years Ago .

chimpanzees, nature, zoos and zoology, coronavirus pandemic, orangutans, gorillas, conservation

Source of news: bbc.com