Hong Kong’s oldest park seals off part following demise of 9 monkeys in two days.
A zoo in Hong Kong is investigating the demise of 9 monkeys, together with three members of a critically endangered species, in two days.
A part of the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, the oldest within the territory, has been sealed off and disinfected, Hong Kong chief John Lee mentioned in his weekly press briefing on Tuesday.
Activists mentioned the incident raises considerations that retaining animals in captivity can enhance the danger that ailments similar to mpox might bounce to people.
Eight monkeys had been discovered useless on Sunday and one other died on Monday after uncommon behaviour.
Specialists have been referred to as in to conduct necropsies and toxicological checks.
“At any time when we now have any information, if there’s a brand new growth, an announcement ought to be made as quickly as attainable, so that everybody can know in regards to the details,” Lee mentioned.
The deceased animals included a De Brazza’s monkey, a typical squirrel monkey, 4 white-faced sakis and three cotton-top tamarins – a species listed as critically endangered by the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature.
On Monday, the federal government held an pressing interdepartmental assembly in regards to the deaths. It mentioned in a press release that one other De Brazza’s monkey’s behaviour and urge for food had been discovered to be uncommon, requiring additional statement.
Nevertheless, all 80 different animals within the gardens had been in regular situation, it added.
Zoonotic ailments
Animal welfare group Folks for the Moral Remedy of Animals (PETA) expressed concern in a press release.
“Monkeys in captivity are sometimes uncovered to pathogens that trigger ailments that may be transmitted to people, together with tuberculosis, Chagas illness, cholera and MRSA,” Jason Baker, senior vp of PETA Asia, mentioned.
He asserted that the one manner to make sure the wellbeing of animals and forestall the unfold of zoonotic ailments is to cease confining them in unnatural environments.
In-built 1860, the territory’s oldest park homes about 158 birds, 80 mammals and 21 reptiles in roughly 40 enclosures.
