Several gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park have tested positive for Covid-19 in what is believed to be the first known cases among non-human primates in the US and possibly the world.
The park’s executive director, Lisa Peterson, on Monday said eight gorillas that live together at the park are believed to have the virus and several have been coughing.
It appears that the infection came from a member of the park’s wildlife care team who also tested positive for the virus, but was asymptomatic and wore a mask at all times around the gorillas.
The park has been closed to the public since December 6 as part of California’s efforts to curb coronavirus cases.
Veterinarians are closely monitoring the gorillas and they will remain in their habitat at the park, which is north of San Diego, Ms Peterson said.
For now, they are being given vitamins, fluid and food, but no specific treatment for the virus.
“Aside from some congestion and coughing, the gorillas are doing well,” Ms Peterson said.
While wildlife including minks and tigers have caught the coronavirus, this is the first known instance of transmission to the apes and it is unknown if they will have any serious reaction.
Wildlife experts have expressed concern about the coronavirus infecting gorillas, an endangered species that share 98.4 per cent of their DNA with humans and are social animals.
The gorillas infected at the San Diego park are western lowland gorillas, the population of which has declined by more than 60 per cent over the past two decades because of poaching and disease, the World Wildlife Fund said.
The safari park tested the faeces of the troop of gorillas after two apes began coughing on January 6.
Positive test results were confirmed by the US Department of Agriculture National Veterinary Services Laboratories in three gorillas.
Faeces from all eight members of the troop will also be tested.
Zoo officials are co-ordinating with experts on coronavirus treatment in humans in case the animals develop more severe symptoms.
The gorillas will remain together as separating them could be harmful because they live in tight-knit social groups.
“This is wildlife, and they have their own resiliency and can heal differently than we do,” Ms Peterson said.
The safari park on Monday added more safety measures for its staff, including face shields and eye goggles when working with the animals.
The confirmation that gorillas are susceptible to the coronavirus contributes to information on how the pandemic may affect these species in their native habitats if they come into contact with humans and human material, the park officials said.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park plans to share what it learns with health officials, conservationists and scientists to develop steps to protect gorillas in the forests of Africa.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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