Urban wild boar sightings persist despite population drop
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago4 MIN
Summary
Wild boars have again been spotted in residential and urban districts including Hin Keng Estate in Tai Wai, Cheung Wah Estate in Fanling and Pok Fu Lam on Hong Kong Island. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said it received more than 540 reports of wild boar sightings or nuisance cases, as well as two injury cases, from January to June this year
Key Points
- Lawmaker Lam Chung-yan (林松茵) posted photos showing a large sow with several piglets moving through Hin Keng Estate, past Hin Yau House and the bus terminus toward Hin Tin Village
- Lam said similar sightings had happened before in the estate, and believed recent storms and difficulty finding food uphill may have pushed wildlife closer to homes
- North District District Council member Ng Yiu-cho (吳耀祖) earlier warned residents after a wild boar family was seen near Cheung Wah Estate in Fanling, with management reporting the case to authorities
- Separately, online photos showed four large wild boars walking calmly along a pavement in Pok Fu Lam, with witnesses saying the animals appeared unafraid of people
- Since ending its capture-neuter-relocate programme in 2021, the department said Hong Kong's wild boar population fell from about 2,000 in 2021 to 990 last year
Why It Matters
The figures suggest that reducing overall boar numbers has not eliminated close contact between wild boars and residents in built-up areas. The department said it is conducting a full review of its current wild boar management strategy and related measures, with the review expected to be completed in the second half of this year