Government Urged Not To Kill Wild Boars

A concern group has on Saturday urged the government to reverse a decision to capture wild boars in urban areas for humane dispatch.

On Friday night, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said the measure aims to reduce the number of wild boars and nuisance caused by the animal wandering in urban areas.

The AFCD said it plans to conduct monthly operations to capture wild boars with dart guns with anaesthetics for humane dispatch.

It pointed out that some wild boars have gotten used to wandering busy urban areas and roads to find food.

The department said that injuries linked to the animal have also been on the rise, with an average of 10 cases per year in the past three years.

It added that it will explore amending the law to expand the feeding ban area for wild animals.

But the Hong Kong Wild Boar Concern Group says humane dispatch is just a means of taking the lives of innocent animals.

It said it was baffled and angry about the new measure, stressing that the department is walking back on its suspension of hunting operations.

It urged the authorities to maintain its control strategy of giving contraceptive or sterilisation treatment to the boars, while boosting public education on the treatment of wildlife.

The group also said the government should organise planting activities to create a better living environment for wild animals so that they won't venture away from the countryside as often.