Sanctuaries for great apes including for gorillas and orangutans are among those which have closed amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

The closures aren’t only to protect humans visiting in groups, but also for the animals themselves, which may be vulnerable to the virus.

Countries home to gorillas including Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have all temporarily suspended gorilla tourism and severely restricted access to the parks, according to the organisation Gorilla Doctors, which provides veterinary care in these countries.

Furthermore, all staff must now wear masks during health checks of the primates, all people entering parks must have their temperatures checked, and boots must be disinfected.

Though a tiger in captivity in New York tested positive for Covid-19, the disease is not known to have spread to gorillas.

Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Show all 19 1 /19 Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Alligator From Alligator Bay zoo in Beauvoir, France AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Gorilla Photo dated 14 September 2003 shows 40-year-old Copo de Nieve (Snowflake), the only albino gorilla in the Barcelona zoo, Spain. Zoo specialists said that the gorilla was suffering from leather cancer and that his life expectancy is of about three months. AFP PHOTO/CESAR RANGEL (Photo credit should read CESAR RANGEL/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Wallaby Albino wallaby in a zoo in mother's pouch Bergamo, Italy AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Panda Spotted in China's Wolong National Nature Reserve on 26 May 2019 AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Python From Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Albino squirrel in Louth Stephen Plant Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Tiger An albino tiger remains in its cage in the house where 15 members of the Beltran Leyva brothers cartel were arrested in Alvaro Obregon district, Mexico City, on October 20, 2008. The detainees, 11 of which are Colombian, were presented to the press on October 19, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Ronaldo Schemidt (Photo credit should read Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Porcupine Albino porcupine from the Kamla Nehru zoo in Ahmedabad, India AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Albino squirrel in Louth Stephen Plant Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Albino squirrel in Louth Stephen Plant Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Hedgehog An albino hedgehog from a zoo in Sochi, Russia AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Peacock Not technically an albino, the white peacock in the Nehru Zoo in Hyderabad, India AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Gorilla MADRID, SPAIN: (FILES) -- File portrait taken 26 May 1997 shows Copito de Nieve (Snow Flake) the only albino gorilla held in captivity at Barcelona zoo. Spanish animal lovers are facing up to an emotional farewell to Copito de Nieve fighting a losing battle with skin cancer at Barcelona zoo. Copito has been at the zoo since 1966 and is believed to be aged between 38 and 40. Catalan primatologist Sabater Pi found the gorilla in 1966 in the forest of Nko, in Guinea. AFP PHOTO DOMINIQUE FAGET/FILES (Photo credit should read DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Squirrel Albino squirrel in Louth Stephen Plant Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Wallaby Albino wallaby in a zoo in mother's pouch Bergamo, Italy AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Peacock Not technically an albino, the white peacock in the Nehru Zoo in Hyderabad, India AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Zebra Albino zebra in Nairobi's national park AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Tortoise A baby Hermann's Tortoise from the Turtle Valley animal park in Sorede, France AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Alligator A baby albino alligator in the Sao Paulo aquarium, Brazil AFP/Getty

In a joint email to The Independent, Dr Ilka Herbinger from the WWF and Dr Fabian Leendertz, an expert in the epidemiology of highly pathogenic microorganisms at the Robert Koch-Institute in Berlin, said it was vital to protect primates from Covid-19.

“The virus is very infectious - it gets to every corner of the world. We have documented transmission of various human respiratory viruses to wild gorilla, chimpanzee and bonobo, so it is known that this happens.

“We must avoid transmission of [the coronavirus] to the great apes since it may have a detrimental effect. However, we don’t know as of yet if this virus will cause mild or severe symptoms in great apes.

“We must apply the precautionary principle, as all great apes are already highly endangered in their survival due to habitat loss, poaching and diseases.”

In a social media post, Gorilla Doctors said: “Our work continues in the face of Covid-19. Even with extraordinary lockdown measures in place, the governments of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo recognise the critical importance of our gorilla health monitoring.

“Our veterinary staff have received special permission to perform their work in spite of country-wide travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders to fight the spread of Covid-19.”

Sanctuaries for orangutans in Borneo have also been closed to protect the endangered animals from the outbreak.

Professor of primate biology Serge Wich, of John Moores University Liverpool, told The Independent the risks differed somewhat for orangutans and gorillas.

Asked about gorillas in central African countries he said: “Gorillas are largely terrestrial in those countries and often come in relative close contact with tourists and researchers.

“At present tourism has been halted to reduce risk. Researchers have clear protocols to maintain distance which are part of their general procedures. This should all help to reduce risk of transmission. But of course there are also other people entering these forests to collect wood, etc, so that still poses a risk as well.”

“Wild orangutans are largely arboreal so their distance is usually quite large to researchers. But there are several sanctuaries where large numbers of orangutans are kept. At those locations there are also protocols in place to reduce risk.

“There are also other areas where great apes can come into contact with people such as plantations, infrastructure development. Risks in such places are largely not known. Nor are there general protocols in place in all such areas.”

Dr Steve Unwin, a specialist in zoo health management and lecturer in biosystems and environmental change at the University of Birmingham told The Independent an estimated 40 per cent of pathogens are known to be transferable from humans and apes, and as such, strict measures are necessary.

He said: “All NGO and governmental sites involved in captive orangutan management… are taking the precautionary principle route and have stopped all but the most needed veterinary and welfare care of the animals under their care.”

But he said relevant research into respiratory disease in orangutans is pending publication.

“Before [Covid-19] hit, research had begun on pathogenic risk factors in respiratory disease in orangutans. Biosecurity measures were already in place at sites - similar to how good zoos operate - to be better able to assess the real risks from the assumed. That process is ongoing and not yet published.”

The experts also warned the fall in tourism due to the virus could eventually impact protections for great apes.

Professor Wich said: “It could lead to a shortfall for national park authorities but could also have a negative impact on local communities that benefit from tourism as well as owners of hotels and lodges. If those people need to look for alternative sources of income that could increase risk.

“In general a reduction of income due to a lack or reduction of tourism could lead to a decrease in patrols. But countries with great apes are committed to their protection so I trust they will do their utmost to continue protecting them and that is also what we hear from the field where essential patrols seem to continue even under these difficult circumstances. But at some stage financial support might be needed to continue this.”

Dr Herbinger and Dr Leendert added the virus was now “a major threat for projects which rely mainly on income from the tourism industry.”