Title: Public Safety Measures Taken After Wild Boar Incident at Hong Kong Train Station

In a distressing incident, a wild boar weighing 154 pounds attacked a woman and a 15-year-old boy outside a train station in Hong Kong. The aggressive animal bit the teen’s hand and the woman’s leg, prompting their immediate transport to a hospital for medical treatment. The unfortunate incident adds to a growing number, as authorities have already captured and humanely euthanized 541 wild boars since the beginning of 2021.

Following the terrifying boar attack, officials from the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department were called in to locate and tranquilize the animal. After its capture, the wild boar was euthanized to prevent any further potential risk to public safety.

Explaining the unusual nature of such attacks, member of the Hong Kong Wild Boar Concern Group, Roni Wong Ho-yin, suggests that the boar might have acted out of agitation or perceived threat. Reports indicate that the boar bit the teenage boy after he attempted to obstruct it with his bag, potentially causing the animal to feel threatened and act out in self-defense.

Hong Kong frequently encounters wild boars, although attacks are relatively rare. The city experiences an average of 94 sightings and incidents involving these animals each month. To address the increasing issue of urban encroachment and attacks, authorities have been responsibly culling the feral pig population since 2021.

To manage the wild boar population, officials in Hong Kong have shifted their approach from capturing and releasing the animals to euthanizing them. In 2019, there was a noticeable rise in wild boars venturing into urban areas from hills and trails. By September 2020, a family of wild pigs was even spotted swimming in a pool within a bank tower in the city’s financial district. In the current year, 220 wild boars have already been humanely euthanized through 79 operations, indicating a significant increase compared to the previous year. These culling efforts aim to mitigate potential risks posed by these animals to public safety and urban environments, dealing with the issue responsibly.