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Tuesday, Apr 23, 2024
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Wild pigs found in urban area to be regularly captured and killed
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department starting Friday will mount operations every month to capture wild pigs found in urban area and kill them, citing public safety concerns.
The department said in a statement released on Friday evening that “wild pigs in the urban area will be regularly captured for humane dispatch with a view to reducing their number and nuisance.”
Officers will conduct the operation every month using dart guns with anaesthetics to capture target wild pigs. Priority will be given to sites with large numbers of wild pigs and those with past injury cases or with wild pigs which may pose risks to the public, according to the department.
They added they will also explore amending the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance to expand the feeding ban area for wild animals in order to strengthen the curbing of intentional feeding activities.
They explained that the wild pig nuisance is largely caused by intentional feeding activities, which triggered the possible coming amendments. The department said they will strengthen publicity and public education to educate the public not to feed wild pigs as well.
A spokesman appealed to the public not to feed wild pigs under any circumstances, saying wild pigs are not pets but potentially dangerous large wild animals.
The spokesman also warned that feeding activities will attract wild pigs to visit or even gather in urban areas, pose dangers to not only the feeder but also other citizens, and cause a nuisance to their daily lives.
Records showed that there were 36 injury cases caused by wild pigs over the past 10 years, of which 30 cases, or over 80 percent, occurred between 2018 and 2021.
Officers will conduct the operation every month using dart guns with anaesthetics to capture target wild pigs. Priority will be given to sites with large numbers of wild pigs and those with past injury cases or with wild pigs which may pose risks to the public, according to the department.
They added they will also explore amending the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance to expand the feeding ban area for wild animals in order to strengthen the curbing of intentional feeding activities.
They explained that the wild pig nuisance is largely caused by intentional feeding activities, which triggered the possible coming amendments. The department said they will strengthen publicity and public education to educate the public not to feed wild pigs as well.
A spokesman appealed to the public not to feed wild pigs under any circumstances, saying wild pigs are not pets but potentially dangerous large wild animals.
The spokesman also warned that feeding activities will attract wild pigs to visit or even gather in urban areas, pose dangers to not only the feeder but also other citizens, and cause a nuisance to their daily lives.
Records showed that there were 36 injury cases caused by wild pigs over the past 10 years, of which 30 cases, or over 80 percent, occurred between 2018 and 2021.
