Comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan’s pet gorilla, Bobo Freewill, died in the early hours this morning due to complications from COVID-19. A teary Rogan posted on Instagram that pneumonia claimed the life of “his best friend.” He went on to say that Mr. Freewill received the best ivermectin and zinc treatments available, but eventually succumbed to the virus.

Critics of Rogan’s are pointing out that his refusal to get the vaccine and his advocacy for quack cures caused the gorilla’s death.

Yes, Gorillas Can Get COVID

The western lowland gorilla was 48 years old, which is considered elderly. Although the animals’ average lifespan is 35 years in the wild, those in captivity can live up to a ripe old age of 50. Recently, a group of gorillas contracted COVID in an Atlanta, Georgia zoo.

NPR reports:

Zoo Atlanta had announced the first positive tests among the western lowland gorillas on Friday after employees noticed the gorillas had been coughing, had runny noses and showed changes in appetite. A veterinary lab at the University of Georgia returned positive tests for the respiratory illness.

Zoo Atlanta says the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, confirms that at least four of the samples from the gorillas so far have tested positive for the delta variant of the virus.

Veterinarian Andrew Canard has 20 years of experience working with gorillas. He’s a vocal critic of those who refuse to get the vaccine. Dr. Canard also has a lot of negative things to say for those who champion the horse dewormer ivermectin. “Those gorillas in Atlanta probably got COVID from someone who is asymptomatic. Rogan’s so-called friend probably got it the same way. It’s obvious infection rates go down as the percentage of the population who get vaccinated goes up. Do you want fewer dead gorillas? Get the jab.”

Dr. Canard also pointed out that the scholarly consensus is overwhelmingly against ivermectin as a tool against COVID. “As Howard Stern pointed out if your doctor is prescribing you ivermectin, he’s a quack.”