(CN - HKG) Pigs lead hunters on a merry hillside chase

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South China Morning Post

By Clifford Lo

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Apr 21, 2010

 

Tranquilliser darts and nets were used in a six-hour operation yesterday to

capture two wild pigs loose on a hillside in Fortress Hill.

 

One of the animals, a young male of 25kg, later died of stress, but the

other, a 50kg adult, was being held in a government centre in Sheung Shui

last night. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said the

adult had suffered minor injuries and was being held for observation.

 

Police and conservation officers were called when a passer-by saw the

animals running around on the hillside near Comfort Terrace, opposite Cannon

Garden, at about 8am.

 

They cordoned off the area to prevent the pigs from escaping, with several

police officers carrying shotguns and shields standing guard at the bottom

of the slope.

 

A government veterinarian with a tranquilliser gun was later called in.

 

The animals played hide-and-seek with the conservation officers who,

carrying shields and nets, approached and tried to capture them.

 

When the pair tried to run down the slope, police officers used their

shields to create a noise by hitting the ground, scaring the pigs to

retreat.

 

Having failed to capture them by noon, it was decided to use the

tranquilliser gun.

 

" Our veterinarian fired three tranquilliser darts, " the department's

spokesman said. " One of the three darts hit the adult boar, but the two

other shots missed. [The adult] was then captured.

 

" Our officers then used nets to capture the smaller one. The incident ended

at about 2pm. "

 

The young boar died on the way to the animal centre. The spokesman said the

adult could be released back into the environment if it was found to be

healthy.

 

He said he had no idea where the pigs had come from.

 

In February, a 50kg boar was captured in North Point. It was injured and had

to be put down.

 

" Don't try to approach or tease a wild boar because it may attack, " the

spokesman said. " If you see a boar, stay calm and leave it alone, and call

police if there is any danger. "

 

The department received 383 complaints about wild pigs last year, up from

347 in 2008 and 202 in 2007.

 

Official figures show 56 wild pigs were killed in 119 hunting operations

last year, with 74 killed in 159 operations in 2008.