عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Varieties

New Mystery Death of Hong Kong Monkey Takes Zoo Toll to 9

Monkeys are pictured outside the Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple in Dambulla on October 14, 2024. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)
Monkeys are pictured outside the Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple in Dambulla on October 14, 2024. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)
TT
20
TT

New Mystery Death of Hong Kong Monkey Takes Zoo Toll to 9

Monkeys are pictured outside the Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple in Dambulla on October 14, 2024. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)
Monkeys are pictured outside the Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple in Dambulla on October 14, 2024. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)

Zoo authorities in Hong Kong are keeping close watch on a monkey that is behaving unusually a day after the ninth death this week of one of the animals, while hastening tests to find out what killed them.
During the monitoring, the city's Zoological and Botanical Gardens (HKZBG) will keep shut its mammals section, after having closed it for disinfection and cleaning on Monday, Reuters reported.
"Government departments will speed up autopsy and toxicological testing," the government said in a statement, as they scramble to pinpoint the cause of the deaths.
The ninth monkey, belonging to the white-faced saki species, died a day after Sunday's deaths of a De Brazza’s monkey, a common squirrel monkey, three cotton-top tamarins and three white-faced sakis, it added.
Authorities will also keep watching the status of a De Brazza's monkey that has displayed unusual movement response and appetite since Monday, it said.
Built in 1860, the territory's oldest park houses about 158 birds, 80 mammals and 21 reptiles in roughly 40 enclosures.
"The health conditions of all 80 animals in the HKZBG are normal," the government said, while officials held an urgent meeting on Tuesday.
Animal welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said the incident raised concerns about the risks of outbreaks of diseases such as monkeypox that can jump to humans from animals.

Most Viewed

 
Varieties

King Charles’ Annual Swan Census Begins on the River Thames

Swan uppers travel along the River Thames between Staines and Eton, during the ancient tradition of Swan Upping, the annual census of the mute swan population on the River Thames in London, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Krych)
Swan uppers travel along the River Thames between Staines and Eton, during the ancient tradition of Swan Upping, the annual census of the mute swan population on the River Thames in London, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Krych)
TT
20
TT

King Charles’ Annual Swan Census Begins on the River Thames

Swan uppers travel along the River Thames between Staines and Eton, during the ancient tradition of Swan Upping, the annual census of the mute swan population on the River Thames in London, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Krych)
Swan uppers travel along the River Thames between Staines and Eton, during the ancient tradition of Swan Upping, the annual census of the mute swan population on the River Thames in London, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Krych)

Scarlet uniforms flashed against the riverbank. Wooden skiffs glided in formation. A young swan, gently lifted from the water, was measured, inspected and released.

The annual five-day census of swans belonging to King Charles III– known as Swan Upping -- began Monday on the River Thames to assess their health.

One of the British monarch’s less-known titles is Seigneur of the Swans — Lord of the Swans — and according to ancient lore, he or she owns all members of the mute swan species found in Britain’s open waters.

AP reported on Tuesday that every year, a team of carefully selected oarsmen — Swan Uppers -- are tasked with finding the swans on a stretch of the Thames.

When a family is spotted, they shout, “All up!” and the boats quickly surround the birds, marking them and checking for signs of disease or injury.

“It gives us an indication of what’s going on throughout the country,” said David Barber, who wears a scarlet jacket and a white swan feather in his cap and bears the title of King’s Swan Marker. “It’s a tradition, but I think it’s serving a very useful purpose as well.”

Barber has been leading the event for more than 30 years.

He is accompanied by a vet and oarsmen dressed in three colors: red for the king, white for the Worshipful Company of Vintners and blue stripes for the Worshipful Company of Dyers.

The last two are medieval London trade guilds that were granted ownership of some Thames swans in the 15th century.

The census tradition dates to the 12th century, when swans were considered an important food for royal banquets and feasts.

While swans are now legally protected from hunting, they face threats from disease, pollution, vandalism and cruelty, Barber said.

Their numbers have declined over the last two years, primarily due to outbreaks of avian flu across Britain, he said, adding that only 86 young swans were found during last year’s Swan Upping, which was 45% fewer than the year before that.

But Barber appeared positive at the end of the event’s first day, with a total of 16 young swans recorded.

The census continues until Friday, traveling from Sunbury, on the outskirts of London, to Abingdon, 80 miles (130 kilometers) upstream.