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Only males have the signature white face

White hair top head

20 to 25 cm*

Arboreal and diurnal, these monkeys live in small monogamous groups. Highly agile primates, they are capable of leaping up to 10 metres between branches and are known locally as "flying monkeys"

32 to 40 cm*

White chests and bellies

Long black fur

Named for their striking white hair, cotton-top tamarins have claw-like nails that help them jump between trees. Often born as twins

Life expectancy

14 years (35 in captivity)

Diet

Fruit, honey, flowers

and insects

Life expectancy

13.5 years (24 in captivity)

Diet

Fruit, nectar, saps, frogs, spiders and lizards

Backs and tails are covered in long black and brown fur

Origin of species

Olive or greyish crowns

Orange

crowns with white edges on their foreheads

Diurnal, terrestrial and arboreal, they proclaim their territorial rights by leaving saliva and scent. They can make booming sounds and a variety of facial expressions

Hands,

arms, and feet are yellow to orange.

Agile jumpers and runners, they prefer to live in trees and only occasionally descend to the rainforest ground for food. They can produce at least 26 different sounds for communication

Blue

and white beards

24 to 40cm*

Speckled yellow-grey fur

Short, soft fur grey to olive green, with whitish underparts

Life expectancy

20 years (30 in captivity)

Diet

Seeds, fruits, leaves, flowers, fungi, insects, spiders and small reptiles

Life expectancy

12 years (20 in captivity)

Diet

Insects, birds’ eggs, fruits, nuts, flowers, seeds and nectar

~50cm*

White stripe along each thigh

4

2

3

1

*Height does not include the tail

Only males have the signature white face

32 to 40 cm*

Arboreal and diurnal, these monkeys live in small monogamous groups. A highly agile primate, capable of leaping up to 10 metres between branches, (also known as "flying monkeys")

Long black fur

Life expectancy

14 years (35 in captivity)

Diet

Fruit, honey, flowers

and insects

Named for their striking white hair, cotton-top tamarins have claw-like nails that help them jump between trees. Often born as twins

Life expectancy

13.5 years

(24 in captivity)

Diet

Fruit, nectar, saps, frogs, spiders and lizards

White hair top head

20 to 25 cm*

White chests and bellies

Origin of species

Backs and tails are covered in long black and brown fur

Olive or greyish crowns

Hands, arms, and feet are yellow to orange.

Agile jumpers and runners, they prefer to live in trees and only occasionally descend to the rainforest ground for food. They can produce at least 26 different sounds for communication

24 to 40cm*

Life expectancy

12 years (20 in captivity)

Diet

Insects, birds’ eggs, fruits, nuts, flowers, seeds and nectar

Short, soft fur grey to olive green, with whitish underparts

Orange crowns with white edges on their foreheads

Diurnal, terrestrial and arboreal.They proclaim their territorial rights by leaving saliva and scent. They can make booming sounds and a variety of facial expressions

Blue and white beards

Speckled yellow-grey fur

Life expectancy

20 years (30 in captivity)

Diet

Seeds, fruits, leaves, flowers, fungi, insects, spiders and small reptiles.

~50cm*

4

2

3

1

White stripe along each thigh

*Height does not include the tail

1 | White-faced saki

Pithecia pithecia

Only males have the signature white face

Arboreal and diurnal, these monkeys live in small monogamous groups. A highly agile primate, capable of leaping up to 10 metres between branches, (also known as "flying monkeys")

Life expectancy

14 years

(35 in captivity)

2 | Cotton-top tamarin

Saguinus oedipus

Named for their striking white hair, cotton-top tamarins have claw-like nails that help them jump between trees. Often born as twins

Life expectancy

13.5 years

(24 in captivity)

3 | Common squirrel monkey

Saimiri sciureus

Agile jumpers and runners, they prefer to live in trees and only occasionally descend to the rainforest ground for food. They can produce at least 26 different sounds for communication

Life expectancy

12 years

(20 in captivity)

MADRID

MADRID

4 | De Brazza’s monkey

Saimiri sciureus

Diurnal, terrestrial and arboreal.They proclaim their territorial rights by leaving saliva and scent. They can make booming sounds and

a variety of facial expressions

Life expectancy

20 years (30 in captivity)

Hong Kong zoo monkey deaths:
here’s what we know

By , , Elizabeth Cheung Published Nov 8, 2024

Twelve primates have died at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens since October 13. The deaths are believed to be linked to contaminated soil from nearby construction work.

When did the monkeys die?

The first eight primates died on October 13, and 12th on October 22. Autopsies found a large amount of the sepsis-inducing bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei, which causes the melioidosis disease. It was likely to have come from contaminated soil near the primates' enclosures. The bacteria’s incubation period in primates is about a week, which appeared to fit the timing of the sudden deaths of the animals.

Death of the monkey

Monkey on isolated surveillance

White-faced

Saki

Cotton-top

Tamarin

Common

Squirrel

De Brazza’s

monkey

Critically

endangered

4 deaths

3 deaths

3 deaths

2 deaths

Age at

time of death

1

3

14

18

11

2

24

31

Sunday,

October 13

UK 1997

Singapore

2018

Beijing

2012

1

Monday,

October 14

Imported

city and year

(If none, was born in HK Zoo)

Zoo closed

From October 14 the mammals section of the HK zoo is closed for disinfection and cleaning

Wednesday,

October 16

Period on isolated

surveillance

6

Saturday,

October 19

10

Sunday,

October 20

13

Tuesday,

October 22

White-faced

Saki

Cotton-top

Tamarin

Critically

endangered

4 deaths

3 deaths

Common

Squirrel

De Brazza’s

monkey

3 deaths

2 deaths

Death of the monkey

Monkey on isolated surveillance

White

faced

Saki

Cotton

top

Tamarin

De

Brazza’s

monkey

Age at

time of death

Common

Squirrel

2

1

24

11

3

31*

14

18

Sunday,

October 13

Singapore

2018

Beijing

2012

Imported city and year (If none, was born in HK Zoo)

1

Monday,

October 14

* UK 1997

Zoo closed

From October 14 the mammals section of the HK zoo is closed for disinfection and cleaning

Wednesday,

October 16

Period on isolated

surveillance

6

Saturday,

October 19

10

Sunday,

October 20

13

Tuesday,

October 22

Deaths of the monkeys

Monkey on isolated surveillance

White-faced

saki

Cotton-top

tamarin

Common

squirrel monkey

De Brazza’s

monkey

Critically

endangered

4

deaths

3

deaths

3

deaths

2

deaths

Age at

time of death

11

3

2

24

31

1

14

18

Sunday,

October 13

Singapore

2018

Beijing

2012

UK 1997

1

Monday,

October 14

Imported

city and year

(If none, was born in HK Zoo)

Zoo closed

From October 14 the mammals section of the HK zoo is closed for disinfection and cleaning

Wednesday,

October 16

Period on isolated

surveillance

6

Saturday,

October 19

10

Sunday,

October 20

13

Tuesday,

October 22

The zoo

The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, the city's oldest park, have been an urban oasis since 1860. The park spans about 5.6 hectares. The mammals section has been closed since October 14 due to the monkey deaths, which raised concerns about animal health and public safety.

Mammals section

Hong Kong Zoological

and Botanical Gardens

Closed access

HK Island

Glenealy

Fountain

Tunnel

Main

entrance

Albany Road

King George VI

monument

Garden Road

Cotton Tree Drive

50m

MONKEY DISTRIBUTION*

12 monkeys were housed in 5 cages, separated by species, with the four white-faced sakis in 2 cages

white-faced saki

cotton-top

tamarin

common squirrel

monkey

De Brazza’s

monkey

2 cages

1 cage

1 cage

1 cage

Closest monkey cage

to the digging work

DIGGING WORK*

The soil digging work in early October was around 3 metres from the closest monkey cage

~3m

Contaminated

soil

The contaminated soil reached one of the monkeys in the cage and caused infection and death

*The exact number of monkeys per cage and the species in the one closest to the digging work are unknown

Mammals section

Hong Kong Zoological

and Botanical Gardens

Closed access

HK Island

Glenealy

Fountain

Tunnel

Main

entrance

Garden Road

Cotton Tree Drive

50m

MONKEY DISTRIBUTION*

12 monkeys were housed in 5 cages, separated by species, with the four white-faced sakis in 2 cages

white-faced saki

2 cages

cotton-top

tamarin

common squirrel

monkey

1 cage

1 cage

De Brazza’s

monkey

1 cage

DIGGING WORK*

The soil digging work in early October was around 3 metres from the closest monkey cage

Closest monkey cage

to the digging work

~3m

Contaminated

soil

The contaminated soil reached one of the monkeys in the cage and caused infection and death

*The exact number of monkeys per cage and the species in the one closest to the digging work are unknown

Biosecurity measures

Hygiene and biosecurity measures taken by staff at Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens:

ANIMALS

Cage cleaning

Check behaviour

Cages thoroughly hosed twice a day, and regularly cleaned with diluted disinfectant

Look for any abnormal emotions or behaviour in animals before entering cages

Faeces inspection

Food hygiene

Animals’ faeces are inspected to see if there are any parasites or infections

Food must be thoroughly washed before consumption, and stored in clean covered containers

ZOO WORKERS

Safety gear

Disinfection

Wear personal protective equipment, such as safety rain boots, gloves and masks

Step in a tray with disinfectant before entering and leaving a cage

Sickness

Staff who are sick are not allowed to enter a cage before making a full recovery

ANIMALS

Cage cleaning

Check behaviour

Thoroughly rinse the cages twice a day, and regularly clean with diluted disinfectant

Look for any abnormal emotions or behaviour in animals before entering cages

Faeces inspection

Food hygiene

Animals’ faeces are inspected to see if there are any parasites or infections

Food must be thoroughly washed before consumption, and stored in clean covered containers

ZOO WORKERS

Safety gear

Disinfection

Wear personal protective equipment, such as safety rain boots, gloves and masks

Step in a tray with disinfectant before entering and leaving a cage

Sickness

Staff who are sick are not allowed to enter a cage before making a full recovery

ANIMALS

Cage cleaning

Check behaviour

Food hygiene

Faeces inspection

Cages thoroughly hosed twice a day, and regularly cleaned with diluted disinfectant

Look for any abnormal emotions or behaviour in animals before entering cages

Food must be thoroughly washed before consumption, and stored in clean covered containers

Animals’ faeces are inspected to see if there are any parasites or infections

ZOO WORKERS

Sickness

Safety gear

Disinfection

Wear personal protective equipment, such as safety rain boots, gloves and masks

Staff who are sick are not allowed to enter a cage before making a full recovery

Step in a tray with disinfectant before entering and leaving a cage

Associate Creative Director Marcelo Duhalde
Additional research by Elizabeth Cheung
Additional web development Yi Zhe Ang

Photos: Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens

Sources: South China Morning Post archives, Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Britannica and National Geographic

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