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  The Straits Times 10 Mar 06
Feeding animals in the wild risky
by Meng Yew Choong

FEEDING wild animals can be risky, as they can pass diseases to people, says Dr Chris Furley, director of the Singapore Zoo's zoology and veterinary services.

Agreeing, the authorities here advise caution because while wild monkeys at reserves and reservoirs here have proven disease-free so far, tests have not been all-inclusive.

Primates can pass on to people diseases such as hepatitis, herpes and tuberculosis, as well as a host of parasites. Two very dangerous examples of viruses carried by such primates are the Ebola virus and HIV, the virus that causes Aids, both of which had been traced back to monkeys and chimpanzees in Africa.

Thankfully, this has not happened here. A recent survey involving the National Parks Board (NParks), the National Primate Centre in the United States and the University of Toronto found that the long-tailed macaques in nature reserves here are generally disease-free.

'This long-term study commenced in 2003 and looks at the transmission of diseases from non-human primates to humans in South-east Asia,' said Ms Sharon Chan, assistant director for NParks' Central Nature Reserve.

Preliminary results show that the macaques in the nature reserves here are free from endemic human pathogens that can cause measles, mumps, hepatitis B and various strains of influenza. They are also free of the respiratory syncytial virus (that causes respiratory tract infections in children), and bordetella pertusis (the causal agent for whooping cough). Still, that does not mean that macaques are free of tuberculosis, or other pathogens that were not tested for in the survey, said Ms Chan.

Dr Furley stressed that people should not let their guard down. 'Feeding them will change their behaviour and make them bolder, a very dangerous thing as it could mean an upswing in the opportunities for the animals to pass on diseases, if any, to humans, and vice versa.' He was addressing the inaugural scientific conference of the Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association here on Tuesday.

The authorities here have repeatedly cautioned the public not to feed wild monkeys. About 80 monkeys are culled here each year because they become too aggressive, but there is no data available on how many people actually get bitten.

In an age when another animal-borne disease - bird flu - has reared its head across the globe, infecting cats, tigers and people, Dr Furley's warning is timely. But he was quick to add that the daily breakfast sessions with the zoo's orang utans here are perfectly safe, as the animals undergo regular health checks. 'There is absolutely no contact between guests and the animal, and a minimum distance of 1m is in place. 'As for petting zoos, they consist of animals that can be easily tested for diseases.

'It is the primates and other animals found outside of Singapore, especially in the wild, that we should worry about.'
links
More about the harm of feeding monkeys and what you CAN do about it
Public urged not to feed wild monkeys Straits Times Forum 31 Jan 06
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