The arrest came as police earlier received a video from a citizen that showed a person brutally killing a feral pigeon in King Lam Estate.

After intelligence analysis, police laid an ambush this morning in King Lam Estate. Officers first spotted a man stopping outside a care home at King Min House at around 5.45 am, who then picked up a pigeon and put it down.

Officers immediately intercepted the man and examined the pigeon’s condition, only to find its wings broken. The man was then arrested for cruelty towards an animal.

Police also called staffers of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to the scene. After examination, an SPCA inspector said the wings sustained injuries on different levels, and the wounds were not caused naturally.

The pigeon was taken to SPCA’s vet clinic in Wan Chai for treatment and further medical examination.

Police said the arrestee was a resident of King Lam Estate and was a retiree. They are now investigating if he was related to four other pigeon abuse cases police received over the past two years. Should he be associated with the previous crimes, police said they would throw more charges against him.

Police said animal cruelty is a serious offense, and the offender could be sentenced to a HK$200,000 fine and three years imprisonment upon conviction.

Police have yet to confirm the arrestee’s motive and believed he was discontent about nuisance and hygiene issues caused by feral pigeons in the area.