No ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to controlling wild boars in Hong Kong, wildlife chief says as he defends controversial cull policy
- Leung Siu-fai, director of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, says only wild boars posing a threat to public in urban areas will be targeted
- Wildlife officials culled seven boars in an operation on Wednesday, triggering public outcry from animal welfare groups and local artists
The head of wildlife officials has defended the controversial policy of culling wild boars in Hong Kong, stressing it only targets certain “black spots” in urban areas and will not affect the animals in the countryside.
Leung Siu-fai, director of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, said there was not a “one-size-fits-all approach” to handling boars roaming different parts of the city, adding only those posing a threat to the public in built-up areas were being targeted under the new strategy.
“I would like to stress that pigs in rural areas are part of the natural scenery. We will not and should not do anything to affect their lives.”
During an operation on Wednesday last week at Shum Wan Road in Wong Chuk Hang, wildlife officials used food to lure boars into the area before tranquillising the animals using dart guns and then putting them down with the injection of drugs.
The move has triggered widespread public outcry, especially from animal welfare groups which have been urging the administration to abandon its policy of killing wild boars that frequent urban areas.
Local artists, including singer Hins Cheung and Anson Kong Ip-sang, a member of the popular boy band Mirror, are among those who have said wild animals also have the right to live in the city.