Death by Nature
Forget terrorists, bombs or car crashes - the real risk is from Hong Kong’s animals. Jan Leung and Adam White teach you how not to die.
Burmese Pythons (Python molurus bivittatus)
What: The good news: there’s only one species of python in Hong Kong. The bad news: it’s the Burmese python, one of the largest snakes in the world. The ones in Hong Kong usually exceed 10 ft., and grow up to 20 ft. in length.
Where: Pythons prefer shrubland and woodland, but are also found in the open. Widely distributed throughout Hong Kong, mostly in the New Territories and on Lantau Island. They hibernate during the cold winter months and become active again in spring or early summer.
Do:
• Stay at least three ft. away.
• Get scared if a python sees you and rears its head into an S-shaped striking position with its tongue flicking. That’s a really, really bad sign.
• Pray for mercy if you or a loved pet gets caught in a python’s coils.
• Seek medical attention if bitten. At least there’s no danger of poison, as Burmese pythons aren’t toxic. They’re just really, really big.
Don’t:
• Counterattack if you yearn to avenge your lost bichon frise. Burmese pythons are protected under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance: “Any person who contravenes the regulations is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year.” You’ve lost you pet, but it’s not worth doing the time.
Python update: On May 26, a 10 ft. python weighing over 180 pound was seen swallowing a young goat weighing 90 pounds in Sai Kung.
Wild Boars (Sus scrofa)
What: Legendarily fierce animal that can reach over seven ft. in length and weigh up to 900 pounds. A boar weighing 500 pounds can store up to 200 pounds of food in its body. In human terms, that’s like eating 160 Big Macs in a row.
Where: Widespread in forested areas throughout Hong Kong, especially around Tai Lam Chung and Sha Tau Kok.
Do:
• Stay away. Wild boar with young can be incredibly aggressive.
• Call the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department (1823) – they’ll send professionals to deal with it if they’re in your garden or land.
Don’t:
• Shout or make any sudden movements, as this will overexcite them. Watch for when they start screeching and pawing the ground – they’re getting ready to charge and it can be fatal.
Boar news: On April 13, a boar was found trapped between the railings on a roadside, bleeding. Witnesses said a taxi driver had been hitting the trapped creature with a metal rod. The boar was rescued and taken to an animal center.
Red-Bellied Piranhas (Pygocentrus nattereri)
What: This 25-inch fish has a famously voracious appetite and is extremely sensitive to the smell of blood. A school of piranhas can eat a cow in minutes flat.
Where: Originally only found in the Amazon river, Red-Bellied Piranhas were accidentally introduced to Chinese rivers after having been sold as pets and then released. An urgent nationwide edict was issued to kill them if seen. Recently, they’ve been sold in pet markets in Hong Kong.