Before the nine monkeys died they displayed unusual behaviour and appetite - a 10th was seen acting similarly but officials said that, as of Friday, its condition remained stable.

The animals contracted melioidosis, possibly after some digging work near their cages, that later caused them to develop sepsis, officials said.

Nine monkeys who died in Hong Kong's oldest zoo in two days this week had been infected with an endemic disease, possibly after some digging work near their cages, officials said Friday. Secretary for Culture,

Three of the monkeys that died at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens are a critically endangered species

The nine monkeys which died at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens have been found to have contracted melioidosis, the government has said. The disease can infect both humans and animals, though the incident is believed to be an isolated infection within the zoo.