Activists warn of dangers as Hong Kong zoo probes monkey deaths

Hong Kong’s oldest parkland seals disconnected conception pursuing decease of 9 monkeys successful 2 days.

A zoo successful Hong Kong is investigating the decease of 9 monkeys, including 3 members of a critically endangered species, successful 2 days.

Part of the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, the oldest successful the territory, has been sealed disconnected and disinfected, Hong Kong person John Lee said successful his play property briefing connected Tuesday.

Activists said the incidental raises concerns that keeping animals successful captivity tin summation the hazard that diseases specified arsenic mpox could leap to humans.

Eight monkeys were recovered dormant connected Sunday and different died connected Monday aft antithetic behaviour.

Experts person been called successful to behaviour necropsies and toxicological tests.

“Whenever we person immoderate news, if there’s a caller development, an announcement should beryllium made arsenic soon arsenic possible, truthful that everyone tin cognize astir the facts,” Lee said.

The deceased animals included a De Brazza’s monkey, a communal squirrel monkey, 4 white-faced sakis and 3 cotton-top tamarins – a taxon listed arsenic critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

On Monday, the authorities held an urgent interdepartmental gathering astir the deaths. It said successful a connection that different De Brazza’s monkey’s behaviour and appetite were recovered to beryllium unusual, requiring further observation.

However, each 80 different animals successful the gardens were successful mean condition, it added.

Zoonotic diseases

Animal payment radical People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) expressed interest successful a statement.

“Monkeys successful captivity are often exposed to pathogens that origin diseases that tin beryllium transmitted to humans, including tuberculosis, Chagas disease, cholera and MRSA,” Jason Baker, elder vice president of PETA Asia, said.

He asserted that the lone mode to guarantee the wellbeing of animals and forestall the dispersed of zoonotic diseases is to halt confining them successful unnatural environments.

Built successful 1860, the territory’s oldest parkland houses astir 158 birds, 80 mammals and 21 reptiles successful astir 40 enclosures.