Tally of Hong Kong monkey deaths reaches 12 as experts call for biosecurity review
Authorities say a De Brazza’s monkey at Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens has died after undergoing quarantine since October 13
A recent spate of monkey deaths at a Hong Kong zoo warrants a review of biosecurity protocols by an external organisation and soil surveillance for bacteria linked to the fatalities, experts have said, with another of the animals reported dead on Tuesday.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said on Tuesday night that a De Brazza’s monkey at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens had died after undergoing quarantine since October 13.
The incident took the number of monkey deaths at the zoo to 12.
An autopsy was carried out to ascertain the cause of the animal’s death, authorities added.
A spokesman said the earlier 11 deaths were confirmed to have been caused by melioidosis, a disease that can affect both people and animals.
The twelfth monkey also had a lesion similar to the other cases that was found in its organ tissues, with a pathological diagnosis and testing still under way, he said.
