Authorities at Hong Kong’s Zoological and Botanical Gardens (HKZBG) are closely monitoring a monkey exhibiting unusual behavior following the recent death of the ninth monkey this week. To facilitate their investigations, the mammals section of the zoo has been closed for disinfection and cleaning since Monday.
In a statement, the government announced that various departments are expediting autopsy and toxicological tests to determine the cause of the deaths. The deceased monkey was a white-faced saki, which passed away a day after the deaths of several other species, including a De Brazza’s monkey, a common squirrel monkey, and three cotton-top tamarins.
Additionally, authorities are keeping an eye on a De Brazza’s monkey that has shown abnormal movement and changes in appetite since Monday. Established in 1860, HKZBG houses around 158 birds, 80 mammals, and 21 reptiles within approximately 40 enclosures. The government confirmed that the health of all remaining animals at the facility is normal.
In light of the recent events, the animal welfare organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has raised concerns regarding the potential risk of zoonotic diseases, such as monkeypox, that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
