Legendary Hong Kong monkey which owner fought to keep at home in high-profile court battle dies aged 18

Female macaque, 18, put to sleep due to serious illness. Original owner fought court battle in 2000 to keep pet after it was confiscated by authorities

DANNY.MOK@SCMP.COM

PUBLISHED : Friday, 08 January, 2016, 10:18am

UPDATED : Friday, 08 January, 2016, 11:16am

Monky Kam Ying with Chan Yiu-wing, son of "Monkey Man" Chan Yat-biu. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Kam Ying – the monkey at the centre of a saga a decade ago over whether a primate could be reared in a household – died in November aged 18, it emerged on Thursday night.

The female rhesus macaque’s master Chan Yiu-wing confirmed with members of the media that it was put to sleep in a Tai Wai animal hospital under veterinary advice.

It was taken to the hospital after falling seriously sick on November 26.

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A vet found Kam Ying had been suffering from serious dehydration, multiple fractures as well as brain problems.

This came a day after a vet from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department made a regular visit and suggested that Chan take the monkey for a health examination.

The fisheries department said on Thursday that Kam Ying had been relatively emaciated and had been on a painkiller prescription from a private clinic for its chronic pain.

A file photo of monkey man Chan Yat-biu, then 90, with pet monkey Kam Ying. Photo: SCMP PicturesA spokesman said the monkey was put to sleep after its keeper notified the department in November when it was found to have multiple serious symptoms.

Its body has been handed to the department.

Hawker Chan Yat-biu in the 1970s, with a different monkey, Bobby. Photo: SCMP PicturesKam Ying had been a good partner for Chan Yiu-wing’s father, “Monkey Man” herbal medicine hawker Chan Yat-biu, who started his business in the 1950s.

The hawker with the monkey became a street attraction in Kowloon City and other areas where he sold his wares. Kam Ying had been taught to salute onlookers, do somersaults and hide in Chan’s vest.

The elder Chan had strived to keep Kam Ying in 2000, when it was taken away by the fisheries department as it was being raised without a permit. Keeping wild monkeys as pets is illegal in Hong Kong.

Kam Ying holding a picture of owner Chan Yat-biu after the latter passed away in 2004. Photo: SCMP PicturesThe confiscation sparked a public controversy in which 10,000 people signed a petition for the monkey’s return. The senior Chan successfully sought a judicial review in which the court ruled the monkey must be returned on humanitarian grounds because its owner was so attached to it.

The department later gave him a special permit – the only one ever issued to an individual.

The elder Chan died in 2004 aged 94. Kam Ying was allowed to stay with the younger Chan.

The junior Chan continued his father business, but in 2007, the herbal product was found to have excessive mercury, and he was prosecuted.

Only the Ocean Park and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department are licensed to keep monkeys and other primates.

http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1899000/legendary-hong-kong-monkey-which-owner-fought