On October 14, 2024, an urgent interdepartmental meeting was convened following the unexpected deaths of eight animals at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (HKZBG) on October 13. Led by Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr. Kevin Yeung, the meeting aimed to gather updates from key departments, including the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), and the Department of Health.
During the discussions, officials revealed that park staff had promptly enhanced monitoring protocols for all animals. Among those under observation were a White-faced Saki and a De Brazza’s Monkey, both of which displayed unusual behavior. Tragically, the White-faced Saki died the following morning, raising alarms about the health of the remaining De Brazza’s Monkey, which will continue to be closely monitored.
To ensure the safety of the animals, the Mammals Section of the HKZBG has been temporarily closed. The park has also conducted thorough disinfecting and cleaning of the affected animal enclosures. Fortunately, preliminary assessments suggest that the health of the remaining 80 animals at the zoo is stable.
In response to the situation, staff members have been instructed to wear appropriate protective gear and remain vigilant about their health. Currently, all personnel are reported to be in good health, but precautionary measures have been put in place due to the seriousness of the incident.
The interdepartmental meeting included discussions on potential future scenarios and solutions to address the situation. Officials agreed to expedite autopsies and toxicological tests to identify the causes of the animal deaths. The aim is to determine whether these incidents are isolated or indicative of a larger health issue affecting other animals in the park.
香港動植物公園第九隻猴子死亡引發緊急會議
2024年10月14日，因應2024年10月13日在香港動植物公園（HKZBG）意外死亡的八隻動物，文化、體育及旅遊局局長楊偉雄召開了一次緊急的跨部門會議。會議旨在收集來自休閒及文化服務署（LCSD）、農業、漁業及保育署（AFCD）及衛生署的最新資訊。
會議中，官員透露，公園工作人員已迅速加強對所有動物的監察措施。正在觀察的動物包括一隻白面薩基猴和一隻德布拉薩猴，兩者均出現異常行為。不幸的是，白面薩基猴於翌日早上死亡，這使得人們對剩下的德布拉薩猴的健康感到擔憂，該猴將繼續受到密切監察。
為確保動物安全，香港動植物公園的哺乳動物區已暫時關閉。公園亦已對受影響的動物圍欄進行了徹底消毒和清潔。幸運的是，初步評估顯示，公園內剩餘的80隻動物健康狀況穩定。
針對這一情況，工作人員已被指示穿戴適當的防護裝備，並保持對自身健康的警覺。目前所有人員的健康狀況良好，但由於事件的嚴重性，已採取了預防措施。
跨部門會議還討論了未來可能出現的情況及解決方案。官員們一致同意加快進行死因檢查和毒理測試，以確定動物死亡的原因。目標是確定這些事件是否是孤立的，或是否表明公園內其他動物存在更大的健康問題。
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