In early January, a group of gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the first great apes in the world to contract the virus.
A month later, several great apes at the San Diego Zoo received an experimental COVID-19 vaccine made for animals, reports National Geographic.
In February, three orangutans and five bonobos received two doses of the vaccine developed by the veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis.
"This isn't the norm," Nadine Lamberski, chief conservation and wildlife health officer at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, told National Geographic. "In my career, I haven't had access to an experimental vaccine this early in the process and haven't had an overwhelming desire to want to use one."
The vaccine had only been tested on cats and dogs, but after much deliberation, Lamberski decided it was worth the risk. She says the apes have had no serious reactions and are doing well.
There are three leftover doses and will soon be given to bonobos and one of the gorillas who didn't get the virus. The group of eight who had it in January live separately in Safari Park.
Other zoos in the U.S. are now requesting doses of the vaccine for their great apes, according to a spokesperson for Zoetis.
The company expects to have more doses available by June.
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