[Animal News]The Fisheries and Conservation Department launched an operation to dismantle animal traps in Tseung Kwan O yesterday, but it was revealed that they had recently lent animal traps to the FEHD to capture wild boars at Cape Collinson Crematorium, Chai Wan. Huang Haoxian, the director of the Hong Kong Wild Boar Concern Group, criticized the AFCD’s approach as ironic, “While dismantling the cages, and setting up the cages to harm animals, is it schizophrenic?” He also pointed out that the cage did not have any indication which government department it belonged to and the purpose of setting it up , making it difficult for the general public to distinguish whether it is an illegal trap.
The Fisheries and Conservation Department issued a press release yesterday, stating that it cooperated with the Society for the Protection of Animals and relevant government departments to launch an operation to crack down on illegal traps in Tseung Kwan O, and seized and dismantled 11 traps and rescued a leopard cat. However, the Hong Kong Wild Boar Concern Group revealed that the Fisheries and Conservation Department “talked one thing and did another” and lent cages to the FEHD to catch animals.
The Hong Kong Wild Boar Concern Group recently contacted the public for help, pointing out that a trap was found within the area of the Cape Collinson Crematorium in Chai Wan. There was a seal with the words FEHD near the cage, and an infrared heat sensor from the Fisheries and Conservation Department was placed nearby. The camera, and some food bait suspected of moon cakes were placed in the cage. Huang Haoxian also said that citizens said that they had seen cats and dogs trapped in traps, and their whereabouts were unknown.
When volunteers arrived at the scene, they found that the trap was still there, and there was no indication of which department it came from or the purpose of setting it up. Volunteers had inquired with the staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, who replied to them today that the traps belonged to the AFCD and were mainly used to catch wild boars.
Huang Haoxian questioned the practices of AFCD and FEHD, “What guidelines and rules does AFCD lend animal traps to other government departments? If cats and dogs are unfortunately trapped in traps, AFCD will How to deal with it? How to avoid violating the “Ordinance for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals?” He also pointed out that the trap was not marked with the department and the purpose of setting it up, and it was difficult for ordinary citizens to distinguish whether the trap was an illegal trap.
He described the AFCD’s approach as ironic. While dismantling illegal traps in a high-profile manner, he borrowed the cages to the FEHD to harm wild animals. Questioning the AFCD’s actions was contradictory, like schizophrenia. This newspaper is inquiring with the Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department about the rationale and arrangement for setting up the trap at the Cape Collinson Crematorium in Chai Wan.
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