Coronavirus poses a great risk to gorillas and other species.
Virunga National Park has released a statement announcing its closure due to the "rapidly unfolding situation" with COVID-19. Tourism in the park has been suspended, and no new reservations will be accepted until June 1st of this year.
Sputnik Agency - National park in the Democratic Republic of Congo temporarily closes its doors to prevent the spread of coronavirus to animals.
Last week, Virunga National Park released a statement announcing its closure due to the "rapidly unfolding situation" of COVID-19. Tourism in the park was suspended this Monday (23), with no new reservations being accepted until June 1st of this year, reveals the publication Newsweek.
The park cites guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) that suggest minimizing movement and social contact, as well as expert opinion that gorillas may be a species at risk of contagion.
"For Virunga, in particular, expert advice was followed indicating that primates, including mountain gorillas, are likely susceptible to complications related to COVID-19," the park administration stated. "Therefore, we must remain steadfast in protecting our populations of these endangered species."
Virunga National Park is not the only one taking similar precautions. The Associated Press reports that three other parks in neighboring Rwanda have taken similar measures, suspending tourism and primate research activities.