A 433-pound gorilla named Shango at Zoo Miami was tested for the coronavirus after he had a low-grade fever and was wounded in a fight with his younger sibling, according to zoo officials.
The 31-year-old Shango’s test came up negative when he was treated at the Zoo Miami hospital on Wednesday after the confrontation with Barney, 26, zoo officials said.
A medical team also performed a TB test and bronchoscopy, which allowed them to examine Shango’s lungs.
Shango is pictured from overhead while the medical team examines a wound on his arm
Shanago, a 433-pound gorilla at Zoo Miami was tested for the coronavirus after he had a low-grade fever and was wounded in a fight with his younger sibling, according to zoo officials
A medical team member is pictured taking a swab specimen while Shango was being treated
A specimen from a swab taken from Shango is pictured being prepared for testing
A medical team member is pictured taking a closer look at Shango’s eyes
The brothers, both lowland gorillas, have lived at Zoo Miami since they were transferred from the San Francisco Zoo in May 2017,wfor tv in Miami reported.
Fights among the animals are not uncommon, but they normally involve more posturing than actual fighting.
The confrontation between Shango and Barney had gotten serious enough to leave the older sibling nursing bite wounds.
Pictured is one of the wounds Shango suffered after fighting with his sibling
Shango is pictured after the medical team has finished treating the arm wound
The team also performed a TB test and bronchoscopy, which allowed them to examine Shango’s lungs
Zoo medical staff decided to immobilize Shango for treatment after noticing him being especially protective of a wounded arm.
An animal health team that treated the bite wounds did not find any permanent damage, WFORTV reported.
Shango also had X-rays taken and underwent an ultrasound test. No skeletal breaks or abnormalities were found.
The gorilla has since been returned to his habitat in the zoo, which has not yet determined whether it will reunite the siblings. That will depend on behavioral tests, as well as Shango’s physical recovery.
The deadly flu-like virus is believed to have originated in animals, however, the risk of COVID-19 passing from animals to humans is considered low.
Shango also had X-rays taken and underwent an ultrasound test. No skeletal breaks or abnormalities were found
During the pandemic, there were at least two domestic cats were confirmed to have the respiratory illness, both owned by persons with suspected or confirmed cases.
What’s more, these people began exhibiting symptoms more than a week before their felines fell ill.
In a report published on June, the CDC warned that Americans with COVID-19 should stay away from their dogs and cats because, in some cases, humans can infect animals.
Brothers Shango and Barney (pictured), both lowland gorillas, have lived at Zoo Miami since they were transferred from the San Francisco Zoo in May 2017
Source – Dailymail
