Indonesia covers up to protect orangutans from virus threat

A Tapanuli orangutan in the Batang Toru rainforest, its only known habitat, on Sumatra island in Indonesia. The govt in efforts safeguard the orangutan through the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation has closed its doors to visitors and told staff to step up precautions to avoid passing on infection, including by wearing masks and protective gloves. - AFP

JAKARTA: Poaching and habitat loss have decimated Indonesia's orangutan population, but now the Covid-19 has emerged as another potential deadly threat to the critically endangered species. While there have been no confirmed cases of transmission from humans to the fuzzy-haired apes, they share 97% of our DNA.The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation has closed its doors to visitors and told staff to step up precautions to avoid passing on infection, including by wearing masks and protective gloves.

"There haven't been any confirmed cases of direct transmission, but it's caused other issues like a shortage of masks and disinfectant supplies for our orangutan caretakers," said foundation veterinarian Agus Irwanto."While the humans at our rehabilitation centres work hard to adjust to these new measures, the orangutans are going about their usual business," the foundation said.

Last month the forest-covered African nation of Gabon said it would stop allowing tourists to see its great apes over fears that humans could give them the virus.

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