From the News: Social Distancing with the Gorillas

Though it is believed to have originated from a live animal market, right now coronavirus is not believed to pose much of a threat to non-human animals... well, most of them.  There is tremendous concern among primate keepers about the threat it may pose to their charges, and especially to our closest relatives, the great apes.  Even under normal circumstances ape keepers are wary of passing diseases onto apes.  They are frequently tested, wear face masks (meaning the current PPE shortages are of special concern to them), and are barred from work if they are feeling ill.   

At Empty Bronx Zoo, Staff Are Being Careful to Avoid Exposing Gorillas to the Coronavirus

Zoos aren't the only places where animal lovers are fearful of the impact of this novel disease on great apes.  Conservationists are casting nervous glances at equatorial Africa, where gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos already cling to a precarious existence.  Logging and the bushmeat trade are continually pulling humans deeper and deeper into what remains of their habitat, and there remains a worrying possibility of COVID-19 catching among Africa's last great apes.  If it does, there is a risk of it spreading and causing further loss.