Second wild boar encounter over weekend as four animals subdued in Aberdeen, Hong Kong
The pigs were spotted on a slope just metres from the South Wave Court residential complex; no injuries were reported
At about 6.28am, police were called to 8 Shum Wan Road in Aberdeen, where four of the animals were spotted wandering on a slope opposite the Aberdeen Marina Club.
The area is just metres away from the South Wave Court residential complex.
Officers holding shields remained on standby as staff from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department were summoned to subdue the animals.
No one was injured in the operation.
On Saturday, a 73-year-old cyclist and a police officer were hurt by a boar near Lohas Park in Tseung Kwan O, after the officer reportedly kicked the animal and provoked it.
In a dense city like Hong Kong where the boundary between nature and urban development is often blurred, it is common to see boar wander into town.
For safety reasons, the department will deploy staff to the scene to catch the wild pigs, with the aid of tranquiliser dart guns fired by veterinarians if necessary.
The captured animals are then released in the remote countryside “if circumstances warrant”, according to the Environment Bureau in a written response to lawmakers in March.
Two boar hunting teams formed by civilian volunteers are also authorised to capture the animals “only if there are confirmed public reports of damage” or the boar are “threatening human safety and property”.
A total of 96 wild pigs were captured by the teams and the department in the 2016/2017 financial year as of March 6, up from 34 in 2014/2015.
