HONG KONG, OCT 14 – A section of Hong Kong’s oldest zoo was closed today after eight monkeys, including three of an endangered species, were found dead, a government statement said.
Zoo officials are investigating the cause of death of the monkeys, which consisted of one De Brazza Monkey, one Squirrel Monkey, three Tamarins and three White-faced Sakis, the Recreation and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) said in a statement.
“Necropsy and laboratory tests have been arranged immediately to help determine the cause of death,” he said.
The tamarin, which is a small tree-dwelling monkey native to the tropical forests of South America, is considered one of the most endangered mammal species in the world.
Fewer than 6,000 survive in the wild, according to the National Zoo and the Smithsonian Institute of Conservation Biology.
According to television news footage, the mammal section of the zoo has been surrounded by barricading iron fences and plastic tape, while closure notices are taped to the gates.
“Pending test results, the mammal zoo section will be closed starting today for disinfection and cleaning,” said the LCSD statement.
The dead monkey was among 93 mammals kept at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, a 5.6-hectare oasis in the prestigious city center that also houses reptiles and birds.
The gardens in the area were converted from the former official mansion of the British colonial governor and opened to the public in 1871, with its zoological collection beginning soon after. – AFP
