‘Monkey enclosure may reopen when situation improves’

Culture, Sports and Tourism Secretary Kevin Yeung said on Monday that authorities will consider reopening the mammal section of the Zoo and Botanical Gardens when a health scare involving monkeys comes to an end.

A De Brazza monkey, three common squirrel monkeys, four white-faced sakis and three cotton wool tamarins died last week, with tests on some of them revealing they had melioidosis, an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria in the soil.

Authorities said workers excavated soil near the monkey enclosure earlier this month and may have brought contaminated dirt for their shoes.

On a radio program, Yeung said that a monkey is still in quarantine.

“When the situation returns to normal, we will consider reopening the area. We observed their behavior and sometimes it was a little unusual compared to normal,” he said.

“The condition of the quarantined monkey varies. Sometimes it’s bad and sometimes it’s good. He is receiving medical treatment.”