Two wild boars beaten to death with metal pipes in Hong Kong country park were ‘killed for food’
PUBLISHED : Monday, 31 August, 2015, 1:29pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 01 September, 2015, 1:55am
Clifford Lo
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The boars were beaten to death with metal pipes. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of bludgeoning two one-year-old boars to death with a metal pipe in a Hong Kong country park.
They were suspected of killing the wild pigs for food, according to police sources. A suspect is still on the run.
One of the arrested men was a 31-year-old toy shop employee.
The other man, also 31, who had been on the run for hours, was arrested shortly after midnight in Tsuen Wan.
The three Hongkongers allegedly placed bait in a nylon net to catch boars at a hillside near Kowloon Reservoir off Golden Hill Road in Kam Shan Country Park, Cheung Sha Wan on Sunday night, according to a police source.
"One wild pig fell into the trap and was bludgeoned to death," said a source with knowledge of the case. "The other was beaten to death while approaching the trap."
The killings were discovered by a male hiker, 28, who saw the three men carrying torches and acting suspiciously on the hillside at about 10.15pm. Upon seeing the hiker, the three men fled in a car, according to police.
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"One of the wild pigs was inside a nylon bag, tied to railings and the other was found dead nearby," said Wong Ka-wai of Sham Shui Po police district.
Wong said police found no other traps on the hillside.
A spokesman for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the carcasses would be handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
At about 7am yesterday, officers raided a Sham Shui Po flat and arrested the first man, who works in a nearby toy shop, in connection with the case.
Police are still searching for the third man, who is said to be a friend of the suspects.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance stipulates that anyone causing unnecessary suffering to an animal can be fined up to HK$200,000 and jailed for up to three years.
The toy shop employee, who works in Sham Shui Po, was later released on a bail and must report back later this month.
The second man was being held for questioning and had not been charged.
Investigation by detectives from Sham Shui Po police district is continuing.
The prevention of cruelty to animals ordinance stipulates that anyone causing unnecessary suffering to an animal can be fined up to HK$200,000 and jailed for up to three years.
