Three cases of cruelty to birds in Hong Kong.
It is always encouraging to see there has been increased awareness for animal welfare and protection in recent years. However, the mainstream media has predominantly focused on cruelty against companion animals like dogs and cats. The animal welfare and protection laws in Hong Kong extends its protection to all animals, which includes all species of reptiles and birds.
As a stop-over point along the East-Asian Australasian Flyway which is home to over 550 bird species, one-fifth of those reside here in Hong Kong. The yellow-crested cockatoo, a critically endangered bird whose numbers have rapidly declined in Southeast Asia due to poaching and the pet trade, have miraculously thrived in Hong Kong, with the city being home to a tenth of the global population. Known for its white plumage and bright yellow crest, the parrot is a critically endangered species under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. Section 8 of the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance, Cap 170 prohibits the possession of protected wild animals (including all species of wild birds), both live and dead, as well as their nest or egg.
Sadly and despite the laws in force, cases of abuse against wild birds continually to be perpetrated in Hong Kong.
A heavily injured pigeon, estimated to be 1 month old, was rescued by a volunteer 2 days ago and died yesterday morning. The visible wounds found on both of its claws were suspected of being caused by unidentified corrosive liquid.
The founder of a bird volunteer group pointed out that there were witnesses to birds being poured with bleach in the past few months. In March, the maintenance staff of a private housing estate in North Point was seen pouring unknown liquid into the bushes regularly. Although there was no direct evidence of animal cruelty, the manager of the property management company admitted that they had recently received complaints about birds in the estate. Several bird carcasses were then found in the district that month.
A man also posted threats against birds on a Kwun Tong Facebook group, who said that he would feed birds with bleach the next time he saw people feeding birds, in order to 'fight against coronavirus'.
Although evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 (the scientific name of the coronavirus which caused COVID-19) emerged from an animal source, the current pandemic is being sustained through human to human transmission. As of 28 July 2020, there have been 2,779 confirmed/probable human cases in Hong Kong but none for wild or pet birds. Among the 10,007 reports on dead wild birds received by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in 2017-18, there were only 4 detected cases of avian influenza viruses in dead birds which accounted for less than 0.04% of the total number of deaths.
There is no legislation prohibiting bird feeding at present. However, leaving any feed on the ground will violate section 4(1) of the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, Cap 132BK and officers from the FEHD can take enforcement actions. On the other hand, it is an offence to feed birds at Leisure and Cultural Services Department venues. Section 11 of the Pleasure Grounds Regulations, Cap 132BC provides that no one shall in any pleasure ground feed or attempt to feed birds kept or found in the venue. Under Cap 132BC, public pleasure grounds have been listed in the Fourth Schedule of Cap 132, and includes parks, sports centres and playgrounds.