Race to solve monkey mystery deaths as zoo toll rises

Wallis Wang

One more monkey at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens has died, with another under observation, as Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu called for an immediate investigation.

The zoo's mammal section was shut down Monday as authorities urgently sought answers to the mystery deaths, which began Sunday when eight monkeys - a De Brazza's monkey, a common squirrel monkey, three cotton-top tamarins and three white-faced sakis - were found dead.

A white-faced sakis died Monday morning, while another De Brazza's monkey exhibited unusual movement and appetite and is still under observation, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced.

At the weekly Executive Council meeting yesterday, Lee said Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung had hosted an urgent interdepartmental meeting Monday to handle the problem.

"First, we have to contain the problem and prevent it from spreading. The relevant mammal section has been sealed off and disinfected," Lee said.

He also instructed staff to take precautionary measures by wearing protective gear while monitoring the environment. "The authorities should figure out the cause of death as soon as possible, including anatomical and toxicological analysis," he said.

Lee said experts already began their analysis Monday, hoping laboratories can complete testing as soon as possible.

Chinese University of Hong Kong's School of Biomedical Sciences lecturer Florence Tang Mei-kuen suspects the monkeys may have been infected with viruses or bacteria and it is also possible they got sick from insect bites.

Tang said animal keepers follow hygiene guidelines when touching animals and believes the primates were not overfed by visitors. If the monkeys contracted viruses, the zoo should inspect all animals to prevent an outbreak, she said.

Registered veterinarian Sarah Lam Pui said the monkeys might have been infected by Leptospira bacteria, which can cause the sudden deaths of animals.

She also said the chance of monkeys dying from heat stroke was slim as recent temperatures were not high.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com