COVID-19 and great apes advisory

From the Section on Great Apes & ARRC Task Force of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group

This COVID-19 and great apes advisory is aimed at extractive industry personnel and is applicable to energy, extractives, transport infrastructure, agro-industry and other projects operating in great ape habitats.

Any human activity within great ape habitat can put great apes at risk. There is also abundant scientific evidence that great apes are susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, it is well known that great apes are susceptible to many other human respiratory viruses that cause only mild disease in people but can kill great apes.

It is strongly recommended that all operations in great ape habitats are suspended. 

Consult the full advisory in English (en Français).