Over the past several years, there has been an uptick in the number of sightings of wild boars in metropolitan regions of Hong Kong. Just in the year 2019, there have already been over one hundred reports of wild boars being seen in public parks and parking garages. Residents are becoming increasingly concerned as a result of this dramatic increase in comparison to prior years.
Wild boars were once indigenous to Hong Kong, but they were nearly hunted to extinction in the early 20th century due to excessive hunting pressure. However, since then they have staged a recovery, and the number of individuals in their population has been consistently expanding. The increasing migration of wild boars into urban areas is being blamed on what scientists believe to be the primary cause, which is the destruction of their natural habitat by various construction projects.
Because there is nowhere else for the boars to go, they are compelled to look for food and shelter in regions where people dwell.Although it is not common for wild boars to attack humans, these animals can become dangerous if they perceive themselves to be in danger. After attempting to snap a photo with a wild boar in Hong Kong in 2018, a woman tragically lost her life at the hands of the beast.
Wild boars are known to carry diseases that can be harmful to humans, such as swine flu, and this is one of the reasons why they should be avoided.The government of Hong Kong has been making efforts to rein in the territory's growing number of wild boars, but its efforts have, thus far, proven fruitless. In the year 2019, the government offered a reward of one thousand dollars for each and every wild boar that was brought in, however this just resulted in more boars being shot.
In addition, the government has been working on a contraception program, but it has been greeted with resistance by organizations that advocate for animal rights.An increase in the sightings of wild boars in Hong Kong is cause for concern because these animals have the potential to inflict harm to people and their property. Before things get out of hand, the government needs to figure out a way to keep a handle on the growing population.