Horns of a dilemma: what can be done about Hong Kong’s feral cows?
Wild brown cattle and water buffaloes continue to stray into urban areas despite government efforts to keep them out
A water buffalo stands at the entrance to one of Hong Kong’s iconic tourist sites, the Big Buddha on Lantau Island, keeping still as a couple walk up to it and pose for pictures.
On the other side of the island, a woman pours fried rice, peanuts and pork in front of a brown cow, saying she fears it might starve to death if she does not feed it.
These scenes, recently broadcast on a local television programme, have triggered a debate over a long-standing problem in Hong Kong – feral cattle roaming the streets.
The presence of these animals in the city is a result of rapid development, which has blurred the lines between the countryside and urban areas, leading various species of wildlife, including water buffaloes, to wander into human territory.
The most recent figures from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) show the city is home to 1,110 brown cattle, located mainly in Sai Kung and the East and North New Territories. About 120 buffaloes can be found on Lantau Island and in the Central New Territories.
