Mystery at Hong Kong zoo as nine monkeys die in two days
manchestereveningnews.co.ukHong Kong’s oldest zoo is seeking answers in a monkey medical mystery after nine animals died in two days, including three members of a critically endangered species.
Part of the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens has been sealed off and disinfected, and experts have been called in to carry out necropsies and toxicological tests, Hong Kong leader John Lee said in his weekly press briefing on Tuesday.
Eight monkeys were found dead on Sunday, and another died on Monday after displaying unusual behaviour. The dead animals included a De Brazza’s monkey, a common squirrel monkey, four white-faced sakis and three cotton-top tamarins – a species listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. “Whenever we have any news, if there’s a new development, an announcement should be made as soon as possible, so that everyone can know about the facts,” Mr Lee said.
On Monday, the government held an urgent interdepartmental meeting about the deaths. It said in a statement that the behaviour and appetite of another De Brazza’s monkey’s had been found to be unusual, requiring further observation.
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