" The presence of monkeys in Kam Shan Country Park is not natural. We introduced them."
Who knew that monkeys could be so sensitive? The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department reminds the public to avoid making direct eye contact. Like a drunk in a bar, eye contact can trigger aggression.
The AFCD announcement came from Hong Kong's first case of monkey-to-human transmission of herpesvirus simiae or the B virus.
A 37-year-old man is in critical condition after he was (allegedly) attacked by wild monkeys and contracted the virus. The United States, China, and Japan have all reported cases in the past, with only around 50 instances recorded worldwide since 1932.
The B virus is carried in the saliva, urine, and stool of macaques. It is spread by bites or scratches from monkeys, while human-to-human transmissions are infrequent.
Media reports do not state whether the sick man was feeding the monkeys. Yet despite the outlawing of feeding, it continues, with many members of the public being reckless.
These days, wild monkeys are predominantly found in the Kam Shan Country Park, which has earned the name "Monkey Mountain". They are also common in the Lion Rock area, Shing Mun Country Park, and Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve. I've also seen them as far east as Sai Kung and in the urban areas of Shatin and Kowloon.
There are records of monkeys living in the Tai Tam Valley on Hong Kong Island and on the Peak as far back as 1819. This is no longer the case.
As the district commander in Tsuen Wan, I received reports of monkeys entering domestic premises searching for food. These intrusions prompted long discussions at the District Council. It was necessary to make clear to the council that the law did not allow the arrest and charging of monkeys for burglary. I did enjoy those sessions.
It may surprise you that the presence of monkeys in Kam Shan Country Park is not natural. Indeed, the park is man-made and designed to protect the reservoir that serves the city. These days, about 80% of the trees are native species, although this is a relatively recent phenomenon. In earlier times, many trees were imported for the purpose of slope stabilisation.
Indeed, the current dominant monkey species is not indigenous to Hong Kong. These monkeys are descendants of imported pets released in the 1910s.
In 1910, after the completion of the Kowloon Reservoir, the colonial government discovered that a poisonous plant known as strychnos grew on the hillsides next to the reservoir. The plant's fruit contains alkaloids that are lethal when ingested by humans. Yet, monkeys can eat the fruit.
The authorities feared contamination of the reservoir's drinking water. Hence, they released monkeys into the area, hoping that they would eat the fruit and remove the threat. The macaques thrived on the fruit diet, and a population explosion was soon underway. Over the years, other species of macaques arrived as citizens, including sailors who brought in monkeys from overseas and released pets in the area.
Hence, the current cohort is a mix of rhesus macaques, long-tailed macaques, and hybrids.
As the monkey population grew and their activities proved a nuisance, the AFCD introduced a contraception programme in 2007. This initiative reduced the population to around 1,800 monkeys, organised into 30 troops.
Despite the risks, even today, the media reports that illegal feeding continues. Of course, feeding wild monkeys can disrupt their natural foraging patterns and alter their behaviour. But I suspect we've got beyond that point in Hong Kong.
Accustomed to receiving food from humans, the monkeys have become reliant on handouts and lost their ability to find food independently. This unnatural dependency has led to aggression.
Raiding local rubbish bins and venturing into town also provide abundant food sources, although a diet of discarded crisps and chocolate is not ideal.
More action is needed if the monkeys are to retain their instincts and behaviours. In that case, the somnambulant AFCD must prosecute the feeders because little else will stop them if a deadly virus doesn't work.
April 2024
The AFCD announcement came from Hong Kong's first case of monkey-to-human transmission of herpesvirus simiae or the B virus.
A 37-year-old man is in critical condition after he was (allegedly) attacked by wild monkeys and contracted the virus. The United States, China, and Japan have all reported cases in the past, with only around 50 instances recorded worldwide since 1932.
The B virus is carried in the saliva, urine, and stool of macaques. It is spread by bites or scratches from monkeys, while human-to-human transmissions are infrequent.
Media reports do not state whether the sick man was feeding the monkeys. Yet despite the outlawing of feeding, it continues, with many members of the public being reckless.
These days, wild monkeys are predominantly found in the Kam Shan Country Park, which has earned the name "Monkey Mountain". They are also common in the Lion Rock area, Shing Mun Country Park, and Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve. I've also seen them as far east as Sai Kung and in the urban areas of Shatin and Kowloon.
There are records of monkeys living in the Tai Tam Valley on Hong Kong Island and on the Peak as far back as 1819. This is no longer the case.
As the district commander in Tsuen Wan, I received reports of monkeys entering domestic premises searching for food. These intrusions prompted long discussions at the District Council. It was necessary to make clear to the council that the law did not allow the arrest and charging of monkeys for burglary. I did enjoy those sessions.
It may surprise you that the presence of monkeys in Kam Shan Country Park is not natural. Indeed, the park is man-made and designed to protect the reservoir that serves the city. These days, about 80% of the trees are native species, although this is a relatively recent phenomenon. In earlier times, many trees were imported for the purpose of slope stabilisation.
Indeed, the current dominant monkey species is not indigenous to Hong Kong. These monkeys are descendants of imported pets released in the 1910s.
In 1910, after the completion of the Kowloon Reservoir, the colonial government discovered that a poisonous plant known as strychnos grew on the hillsides next to the reservoir. The plant's fruit contains alkaloids that are lethal when ingested by humans. Yet, monkeys can eat the fruit.
The authorities feared contamination of the reservoir's drinking water. Hence, they released monkeys into the area, hoping that they would eat the fruit and remove the threat. The macaques thrived on the fruit diet, and a population explosion was soon underway. Over the years, other species of macaques arrived as citizens, including sailors who brought in monkeys from overseas and released pets in the area.
Hence, the current cohort is a mix of rhesus macaques, long-tailed macaques, and hybrids.
As the monkey population grew and their activities proved a nuisance, the AFCD introduced a contraception programme in 2007. This initiative reduced the population to around 1,800 monkeys, organised into 30 troops.
Despite the risks, even today, the media reports that illegal feeding continues. Of course, feeding wild monkeys can disrupt their natural foraging patterns and alter their behaviour. But I suspect we've got beyond that point in Hong Kong.
Accustomed to receiving food from humans, the monkeys have become reliant on handouts and lost their ability to find food independently. This unnatural dependency has led to aggression.
Raiding local rubbish bins and venturing into town also provide abundant food sources, although a diet of discarded crisps and chocolate is not ideal.
More action is needed if the monkeys are to retain their instincts and behaviours. In that case, the somnambulant AFCD must prosecute the feeders because little else will stop them if a deadly virus doesn't work.
April 2024
Copyright © 2015