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| Ebola virus 'has killed a third of world's gorillas and chimpanzees' – and could pose greatest threat to their survival, conservationists warn | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Ebola virus currently poses the greatest threat to the survival of great apes, conservationists have warned, after killing an estimated third of the world's gorillas and chimpanzees since the 1990s. | The Ebola virus currently poses the greatest threat to the survival of great apes, conservationists have warned, after killing an estimated third of the world's gorillas and chimpanzees since the 1990s. |
| The unprecedented current Ebola epidemic in West Africa has killed some 8,641 people, according to data from the World Health Organisation, while the first batch of GlaxoSmithKline's experimental Ebola vaccine was expected to arrive in Liberia today. | The unprecedented current Ebola epidemic in West Africa has killed some 8,641 people, according to data from the World Health Organisation, while the first batch of GlaxoSmithKline's experimental Ebola vaccine was expected to arrive in Liberia today. |
| But conservationists have suggested a vaccination could also prove helpful in tackling the threat the virus poses to our closest cousins. | But conservationists have suggested a vaccination could also prove helpful in tackling the threat the virus poses to our closest cousins. |
| Writing for The Conversation, Meera Inglis, a Conservation Policy PHD student at the University of Sheffield, said: "At this moment in time Ebola is the single greatest threat to the survival of gorillas and chimpanzees." | Writing for The Conversation, Meera Inglis, a Conservation Policy PHD student at the University of Sheffield, said: "At this moment in time Ebola is the single greatest threat to the survival of gorillas and chimpanzees." |
| She goes on to suggest while vaccination could help as "a short-term strategy" to tackle the virus in apes, a longer-term strategy could focus on restoring forest habitat, "as larger forested areas would reduce the chances of infected animals coming into contact with one another." | She goes on to suggest while vaccination could help as "a short-term strategy" to tackle the virus in apes, a longer-term strategy could focus on restoring forest habitat, "as larger forested areas would reduce the chances of infected animals coming into contact with one another." |
| An estimated one third of the world's gorillas and chimpanzees have been killed by Ebola since the 1990s (PA) | An estimated one third of the world's gorillas and chimpanzees have been killed by Ebola since the 1990s (PA) |
| A report written by Ria Ghai for The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada suggests "an estimated one third of the world's gorillas and chimpanzees have been killed by this disease". | A report written by Ria Ghai for The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada suggests "an estimated one third of the world's gorillas and chimpanzees have been killed by this disease". |
| Ms Ghai writes: "Outbreaks of Ebola are infrequent, but many wildlife populations are unmonitored. Therefore, infection of a single member of a highly affiliative animal species like chimpanzees can lead to population-level spread, especially if carcasses are left uncollected to be handled or scavenged by other animals." | Ms Ghai writes: "Outbreaks of Ebola are infrequent, but many wildlife populations are unmonitored. Therefore, infection of a single member of a highly affiliative animal species like chimpanzees can lead to population-level spread, especially if carcasses are left uncollected to be handled or scavenged by other animals." |
| According to the WWF, a 1994 Ebola outbreak in Mikébé, in northern Gabon, "wiped out the entire population of what used to be the second largest protected population of gorillas and chimpanzees in the world." | According to the WWF, a 1994 Ebola outbreak in Mikébé, in northern Gabon, "wiped out the entire population of what used to be the second largest protected population of gorillas and chimpanzees in the world." |
| In 2006, meanwhile, a study published in the journal Science suggested 5,000 gorillas were killed in Gabon and Congo by the Zaire strain of Ebola in 2002 and 2003. | In 2006, meanwhile, a study published in the journal Science suggested 5,000 gorillas were killed in Gabon and Congo by the Zaire strain of Ebola in 2002 and 2003. |
| WWF lists the Western lowland gorilla as "critically endangered", with an estimated population of 100,000 indivuals. | WWF lists the Western lowland gorilla as "critically endangered", with an estimated population of 100,000 indivuals. |
| The environmental charity, which lists the Ebola virus as among the main threats to the species, along with "hunting and trade" and "habitat loss and degradation", has said it is supportive of efforts to find a vaccine. | The environmental charity, which lists the Ebola virus as among the main threats to the species, along with "hunting and trade" and "habitat loss and degradation", has said it is supportive of efforts to find a vaccine. |
| Cath Lawson, WWF-UK's Regional Officer - East Africa, told The Independent: "Although scientists project that a human approved Ebola vaccine might be available early this year - if and when a vaccine is available, there is presently no feasible method to vaccinate by injection more than a handful of wild great apes, thus potentially protecting only a minimal portion of overall great ape numbers. | Cath Lawson, WWF-UK's Regional Officer - East Africa, told The Independent: "Although scientists project that a human approved Ebola vaccine might be available early this year - if and when a vaccine is available, there is presently no feasible method to vaccinate by injection more than a handful of wild great apes, thus potentially protecting only a minimal portion of overall great ape numbers. |
| "Other methods of vaccine delivery are being explored, including 'self-disseminating' vaccines, and would ideally be less invasive and potentially affect many more individuals within a given population. At present, we are forced to rely on natural barriers (e.g., rivers, human settlements, possibly roads, etc.) to halt the spread of Ebola and its passing from population to population. Indeed, suggestions have been made to secure these barriers by, for example, periodically clearing narrow rivers where occasional tree-falls render them traversable to great apes." | "Other methods of vaccine delivery are being explored, including 'self-disseminating' vaccines, and would ideally be less invasive and potentially affect many more individuals within a given population. At present, we are forced to rely on natural barriers (e.g., rivers, human settlements, possibly roads, etc.) to halt the spread of Ebola and its passing from population to population. Indeed, suggestions have been made to secure these barriers by, for example, periodically clearing narrow rivers where occasional tree-falls render them traversable to great apes." |