Hong Kong zoo officials reveal what killed nine monkeys, including endangered tamarins

Nine monkeys – including three of an endangered species – who died this week in Hong Kong's oldest zoo was infected with an endemic disease, officials said Friday.

The animals at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens may have contracted melioidosis after some digging near their cages, which later led to sepsis, Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Kevin Yeung said in a news conference.

Yeung emphasized that such infections typically arise through contact with contaminated soil and water and that there is generally no danger to humans from contact with infected animals or people.

“We are saddened by the deaths of the nine monkeys,” he said.

Eight monkeys were found dead on Sunday and another died on Monday after exhibiting unusual behavior, officials said earlier this week. The deceased animals included a Brazza monkey, a squirrel monkey, three cotton-top tamarins and four white-faced sakis.

Cotton-top tamarins – a species of small arboreal monkeys native to the tropical forests of South America – are considered one of the most endangered primate species in the world.

According to the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, there are fewer than 6,000 monkeys left in the wild.

What is melioidosis?

According to the Hong Kong Center for Health Protection, melioidosis is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is widespread in soil and muddy water.

Yeung said the park conducted digging work to repair some irrigation pipes under the flower bed near the monkey cages in early October and that the deaths may be related.

He said the monkeys may have come into contact with the bacteria after park employees went into their cages with possibly contaminated shoes. Another possibility is that some infected monkeys had close contact with other monkeys, he said.

“The incubation period for melioidosis in primates is about a week and this is consistent with the period after soil excavation work,” he said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, other animals known to suffer from melioidosis are sheep, goats, hogs, hogs, wild boars, horses, cats, dogs and cows. The disease is mainly found in tropical climates, particularly southern Asia and northern Australia.

Edwin Tsui, the center's director, said the incident only occurred in a single zone and its impact on Hong Kong residents was very small.

Yeung held an urgent interdepartmental meeting on the deaths on Monday with the Department of Recreational and Cultural Services, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation and the Department of Health.

Another De Brazza monkey also exhibited unusual behavior and appetite, but officials said its condition remained stable Friday.

The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens – the oldest park in the former British colony – opened fully to the public in 1871. It is a rare urban oasis in the central downtown district of the financial hub, which fell back under Chinese rule in 1997.

The deceased monkeys were among 93 mammals kept at the zoo, which also houses reptiles and birds.