Launceston's City Park macaque monkeys could be gone in 20 years as council wants to sterilise them due to inbreeding
The macaques will slowly die out over the next few decades if the council adopts the sterilisation plan. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
In short:
The macaque monkeys featured in Launceston's City Park will die out and not be replaced if the council adopts its proposed plan to sterilise the troop.
The mayor says there is no longer a way to introduce new genetic diversity to the troop due to federal importation laws, and the monkeys are becoming inbred.
What's next?
The council says it understands there will be great community interest when it discusses whether to adopt the motion to restrict breeding next week.
Launceston's popular City Park macaque monkeys could be left to die out, as a motion to restrict their breeding goes before the council.
The macaques have been a feature of the northern Tasmanian city since the 1980s — gifted by its Japanese sister city Ikeda — and have become beloved among locals and tourists alike.
"[They] have been linked with Launceston ever since," Mayor Matthew Garwood said.
But council officers have recommended breeding come to a halt, with primate keeper Bridie Slattery saying it was best for their welfare.
The first macaque monkeys were donated by Launceston's sister city in Japan. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
"We have failed to be able to introduce new genetics into the troop for genetic viability, and unfortunately, with this species we can no longer import new genetics into the country," she said.
"We are also the last facility in Australia that have this species as a troop, so we're at a bit of a dead end.
"We're not yet at the time where we'll see genetic deformities and things like that, they're still extremely healthy, which is why we want to do it now, we don't want to get to the point where they're not healthy."
Monkey Island is a popular feature of Launceston's centrally located City Park. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
If genetic issues advanced, she said there would be more miscarriages and stillbirths.
Ms Slattery said the enclosure was also at capacity, and the macaques were showing signs of aggression and discomfort in the inside enclosures where they sleep.
Loading..."Unfortunately, with such a social species, if we take one out, that crumbles the whole group. Even … one that is on the very bottom of the hierarchy," she said.
"If that one goes and someone else is on the bottom of the hierarchy, then their life is going to be affected."
There are currently 25 macaques, with another two expected in the next month.
The open-air Monkey Island was opened in the 1980s. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
Ms Slattery said they could live for 30 years, and once the population thinned, the team would do a "welfare analysis".
"This is a very social species, so as we do dwindle down in numbers, we will start to see some effects on their welfare, so that's when we'll do some observations and make sure that their welfare is always being met," she said.
She said they planned to target males — vasectomising the dominant ones and castrating the others.
"We still do want to have some natural behaviour within the troop, because it's very important, especially for our females," she said.
The monkey troop will eventually age and die out, if the council's proposal is supported. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
The troop is riddled with the herpes B virus, which is common in Japanese macaques, and was first detected in the Launceston monkeys in 2000.
Faced with options including euthanasia and rehoming, the council at the time attempted to introduce new stock — but it was unsuccessful.
The council has known for more than 20 years that the troop carry the herpes B virus, which is common in the species. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
The Federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 now no longer allows the species to be imported.
Cr Garwood said he understood next week's council discussion would be of great community interest.
"We have to now instead consider how the City Park troop is managed into the future in a way that is caring and humane," he said.
"We know community sentiment toward keeping animals in captivity has shifted a lot since 1981, and it's now time we consider this issue with fresh eyes, with the welfare of the troop as our top priority."
If the motion is adopted, City Park would be without monkeys within the next few decades.
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