To date, there have been no recorded cases of chimpanzees testing positive for COVID-19 at zoo, sanctuaries or in the wild. The risk of their chimpanzees contracting COVID-19 is low, given the use of PPE and a high vaccination rate in caretakers.
ALEX VIVEROS: As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has continued in the United States, a parallel vaccination effort has taken place in some U.S. zoos to protect their animals, particularly great apes. Now, a chimpanzee sanctuary in Georgia is ready to do the same, saying it intends to soon give an experimental COVID-19 vaccine to its primates, who are likely also vulnerable to the pandemic coronavirus.
“Having consulted with our vet and several other zoo individuals, we’re confident that it’s the right decision for us,” says Ali Crumpacker, executive director of the Project Chimps sanctuary. Additional U.S. chimp sanctuaries tell Science they are discussing whether to vaccinate their animals and will watch others’ efforts closely. But some say they don’t see a pressing need to do so, given other precautions they have taken.
Primatologists have worried about great apes, both captive and in the wild, since the start of the pandemic. Chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and bonobos all share versions of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the cell surface receptor to which SARS-CoV-2 binds to initiate infections… In response, zoos, sanctuaries, and national parks around the world tightened measures to protect their great apes against COVID-19, increasing their use of masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) and further restricting access to the animals.
Still, concern grew in January 2021 when eight gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park contracted the virus. They survived, with just a fit of coughs and congestion to show for it, but the experience led the facility to become the first zoo to vaccinate, giving jabs to nine orangutans and bonobos in February. The animals received an experimental nonhuman COVID-19 vaccine provided by Zoetis, a U.S. company that was originally the animal division of Pfizer…
Soon after, Zoetis announced that more than 70 zoos, sanctuaries, and other institutions across the United States had requested doses. More than a dozen zoos have started to vaccinate otters, great apes, bears, and other animals… Great ape sanctuaries outside of the United States are also pondering whether to vaccinate their animals, although Zoetis shot isn’t yet available in other countries…
Now Project Chimps, founded in 2014 and one of six accredited U.S. chimp sanctuaries that house great apes from research labs, the pet trade, and the entertainment industry, is about to receive a shipment of the Zoetis vaccine for its 77 chimps. Although the sanctuary already has COVID-19 precautions and more than 95% of staff are vaccinated, they wanted the extra protection for their animals. “We felt reassured by the fact that [zoos] went first and have seen no downsides,” Crumpacker says…
About 70% of the chimpanzees at Project Chimps have been trained to receive voluntary injections, and the staff is working on preparing the rest. Crumpacker says they will not force the vaccine on chimpanzees that refuse shots and will instead try to vaccinate them later…
The U.S. government declared in 2015 that it would stop funding invasive chimpanzee research, and in 2016 the largest private chimpanzee research facility in the world pledged to send all 220 of its chimpanzees to Project Chimps within 5 years. That process has been slower than expected and mired in controversy; so far, 80 chimps have been relocated to Project Chimps…
But leaders of Chimp Haven, the largest and only federally funded chimpanzee sanctuary in the United States, have decided not to order the vaccine for now. They believe the risk of their chimpanzees contracting COVID-19 is low, given the use of PPE and a high vaccination rate in caretakers. To date, there have been no recorded cases of chimpanzees testing positive for COVID-19 at zoo, sanctuaries or in the wild…
Chimp Haven and several other sanctuaries cited the experimental nature of the Zoetis vaccine and said they wanted to learn more about its efficacy. The vaccine, which was first developed for use in cats and dogs, has only been authorized for experimental use in animals… Mahesh Kumar, the senior vice president of global biologics research and development at Zoetis, says the company is confident its vaccine is safe for animals. Still, Kumar acknowledges the vaccine’s efficacy in different species remains unclear. SOURCE…
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