A water monitor lizard that went missing in Hong Kong for almost a fortnight looked “a bit dismayed” about the abrupt end to his adventure after being recaptured on the weekend.

Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden said the 1.5-metre-long (4.9-foot-long) lizard, named “Aberdeen”, was seen sunbathing on a terrace by a hiker at the nature reserve in Tai Po on Sunday afternoon.

The lizard has served as a reptile ambassador for eight years after he was rescued from the illegal pet trade. According to the centre, Aberdeen had been a model reptile ambassador for thousands of visitors on how lizards roamed wild in Hong Kong.

Courtesy of Kat Mak,

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The carcass of a finless porpoise was discovered in Hong Kong on Sunday morning, in the 23rd case of a marine mammal corpse being found in city waters this year. Authorities responded to a call at 7.40am about an animal spotted floating near the Central pier. Police said officers were able to salvage the body from the water.

A threatened species list from the International Union for Conservation of Nature indicates Indo-Pacific finless porpoises are considered “vulnerable” – at high risk of extinction. The foundation estimates about 200 of them live in Hong Kong and adjacent waters.

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The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (HKZBG), with its outdated animal facilities, is in dire need of transformation to align with modern understandings of animal welfare and scientific advancements.

This is a call to action in aid of the animals who continue to suffer within its confines.

The current conditions fail to provide adequate space, enrichment, and natural habitats for the diverse range of animals housed there. Animals are often confined to small enclosures that restrict their natural behaviours and social interactions, leading to physical and psychological distress.

Modern zoos emphasize the importance of providing spacious, stimulating environments that cater to the specific needs of each species, promoting their physical and mental well-being.

Upgrading the HKZBG’s facilities in line with these principles would not only enhance the lives of the animals but also promote education and awareness among visitors about the importance of ethical and compassionate treatment of animals.

Courtesy of Saskia Sinha

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時事評論員孔文添（Tim Hamlett）在2023年8月6日於Hong Kong Free Press刊登〈香港鯨魚悲劇收場，但我們真的需要制定新法例嗎？〉（Hong Kong‘s whale met a sad end, but do we really need a new law?）一文。作者認為政府根本無需就保護鯨魚制定新法例，直言：「就極不可能發生的事情立法浪費時間和精力」（it is a waste of time and effort to legislate for things which are seriously unlikely to come up）。

我們絕不同意孔氏之見，其立場明顯建基於漏洞百出的論證與論據。更甚者，不同民間組織最近一直就動物保育促請政府檢討、修訂和制定法例，孔氏極具誤導性和不負責任的文章無疑會使相關努力付諸東流。

我們堅定地認為，香港有必要製定新法例，以允許當局：一、把違反《觀豚活動守則》刑事化，並將相關保障擴展至其他海洋生物；二、設立短期保護限制區。

作為一名有影響力的人，我們對孔氏撰寫如此極具誤導性的文章深感遺憾和失望。我們在此要求孔氏就其不負責任的言論道歉，並撤回該篇充滿錯誤資訊的文章。

Courtesy of Pit Hok Yau of HKALPO and the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society.

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Hong Kong Free Press’s columnist Tim Hamlett has published an article titled “Hong Kong’s whale met a sad end, but do we really need a new law?” on 6 August 2023. The author has argued that it is unnecessary for the government to implement new legislation that protects whales in Hong Kong, claiming “it is a waste of time and effort to legislate for things which are seriously unlikely to come up.”

We wholeheartedly disagree with Mr. Hamlett, whose stance obviously anchors on some very flawed arguments. Worse still, his misleading and irresponsible piece has inevitably jeopardized the recent lobbying efforts by different conservation NGOs who have asked for an evaluation of existing policies and new legislation on marine animals.

We stand firmly that it is necessary to have new laws that (1) expand the coverage and criminalise violations of the current dolphin-watching guidelines and (2) allow the authorities to set up short-term restrictive zones for conservation.

As a man of influence, we regret and are deeply disappointed by Mr. Hamlett’s misleading article. We hereby urge Mr. Hamlett’ to apologize for his irresponsible arguments and retrieve the article, which is full of misinformation.

Courtesy of Pit Hok Yau of HKALPO and the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society.

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Hong Kong police are investigating the death of a dog found floating in waters off Hung Hom with a rope tied to a pier around its waist.

The one-metre long female mongrel with black and white hair was found close to a pier near Tai Wan Shan Park. A nylon rope was tied around its waist, with the other end bound to the railing of a staircase at the pier. A hollow metal object measuring 15cm (6 inches) in length was also attached to the rope.

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Until late last week, Tomohon Traditional Market in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, played host to an array of abhorrent practices towards animals. Parallels are evident between Tomohon and other animal markets in China and South Korea; dubbed the ‘last big [global] economies’ to facilitate the consumption and trade of dog and cat meat.

While animal cruelty is the primary reason activist groups have been pushing for closure, rabies transmission is another major concern.

The elevated status of dogs and cats as companion animals in recent years has also contributed to societal mood shifts. Increasing awareness of animal welfare and disease among younger generations may be the key to lasting change and to put a stop to this abhorrent and callous trade.

Courtesy of Saskia Sinha

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A whale carcass, suspected to be the Bryde's whale first spotted on July 13 in Sai Kung, was found floating belly up on the surface of the sea in Hong Kong’s eastern waters.

The news came on Monday after a video surfaced online showing the motionless mammal floating belly up, with the cameraman suspecting the animal’s stomach was cut open by a propeller - with its guts exposed.

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Hong Kong residents have been urged to stop approaching a whale spotted in Sai Kung after experts spotted injuries on the animal.

The animal was spotted with a cut on its back in recent days, with the injury suspected to have been caused by a sharp object such as a boat propeller. The mammal is also showing signs of mental stress as her injuries worsened.

Crowds of people had been spotted approaching the whale over the weekend, which may cause the animal stress and can lead to life-threatening consequences – such as inability to rest or feed.

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Conventional layer hen cages will be phased out in Australia by 2036 after an independent review panel released updated poultry standards.  

From this year, all new chicken cages must be installed with nest areas and layer hens must also have access to perches or platforms and a scratch area. If a cage system was installed before the end of 2011, it must meet the new requirements by July 1, 2032, and cages installed after 2014 need to be updated by 2036.

It remains to be seen whether Australia, and other countries promising a more immediate year of reckoning will meet their cage-free goals. For now, the introduction of similar regulations prohibiting or phasing out battery egg production and distribution in Hong Kong and China would set a positive precedent for the rest of Asia.

Courtesy of Saskia Sinha

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An Italian court has suspended a ruling that a brown bear should be put down for mauling to death a jogger in the Alps.

The animal, a 17-year-old female identified as JJ4, was captured after the fatal attack on Andrea Papi, 26, near his village of Caldes on 5 April. He was the first person in Italy to be killed in a bear attack in modern times.

Judges at the Rome administrative court, known as the council of state, said on Friday that while the bear should be kept in captivity for public safety, the cull order was “disproportionate” and unnecessary.

Courtesy of Pit Hok Yau, Tim

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With the recent incident rate of racehorse deaths increasing, the question as to the welfare of these animals in the horse racing industry has once again begun.

There is a desperate need to address oversupply issues in the racing industry including by reducing the number of racehorses bred, minimising the risk of injury and for every horse to be provided with a suitable alternative role on retirement.

Using animals in "sports" often involves causing intentional harm and inflicting violence on these sentient beings and more must be done to protect these animals.

Courtesy of Eufrosina Liu

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Sixty tusks from protected hippopotamus and 3,300 live turtles were among a HK$2 million haul of contraband seized by Hong Kong customs in a crackdown against a cross-border sea smuggling operation.

Customs officers arrested three local men at the waterfront in Ap Lei Chau, but the other three smugglers fled in a speedboat, according to Inspector Hong Yan of the syndicate crimes investigation bureau.

The total haul was estimated to be worth HK$2 million in Hong Kong.

Courtesy of Kat Mak.

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Canada has banned testing cosmetic products on animals, a largely symbolic move that brings the policy in line with dozens of other countries.

The amendments to the Food and Drug Act were included in this year's budget, and will come into effect in December.

In addition to barring companies from testing their cosmetic products on animals in Canada, the regulations prevent new products that rely on animal testing data to establish product safety from being sold in this country.

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Two recent incidents which have made international headlines are exemplars of the lack of animal welfare in various recreational encounters in China.

Despite claims by the theme park that pigs are respectfully treated, it is essential to remain critical of their living conditions. For instance, the fact that guests can easily take home a pig upon check out is worrying. Similarly, the fact that Garden Expo allows for tourists to interact with wild birds in such close proximity is a significant cause for concern.

Knowledge and education allow us to make better and more unformed decisions. As consumers, the power lies with us to vote with our feet and stop the demand for such tourism activities.

Courtesy of Wai Yan Janet Lam

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A year-long BBC investigation has uncovered a sadistic global monkey torture ring stretching from Indonesia to the United States.

The World Service found hundreds of customers in the US, UK and elsewhere paying Indonesians to torture and kill baby long-tailed macaques on film.

The torture ring began life on YouTube, before moving to private groups on the encrypted messaging app Telegram. Police are now pursuing the buyers and several arrests have already been made.

Courtesy of Claire Lai

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The Shark Fins Act passed into UK law on 29 June 2023, marking a major step in cementing the UK as a global leader in shark conservation. The Act will ban the import and export of detached shark fins, including all products containing shark fins such as tinned shark fin soup.

The Shark Fins Act provided a solution to this problem in the UK, abolishing the need for DNA testing entirely by enacting a complete ban on the animal product.

For now, it is unlikely such a move will be emulated in Hong Kong. If the practice of shark finning is to be truly halted, more work must be done at the ground level to diminish demand for shark fin across Asia, and punish those acting contrary to existing regulations to the full extent of the law.

Courtesy of Saskia Sinha

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A new law guarantees sea turtles in Panama the right to live and have free passage in a healthy environment.

The law gives sea turtles the right to an environment free of pollution and other human impacts that cause physical or health damage, like climate change, incidental capture, coastal development and unregulated tourism.

What makes the law remarkable is that it explicitly says sea turtles, as living creatures, have rights, and with enough specificity that those rights can be enforced.

Courtesy of Kt Dallison

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A 43-year-old woman was arrested on 22 June 2023 for allegedly ill-treating animals, after at least 20 cats were found in an odorous flat with no food nor water in Hong Kong.

The tragedy was scandalised after the neighbour who lives under the arrestee called the police complaining about the water seepage from the ceiling. The neighbour was also worried that the arrestee could have fainted because the dripping water came with an obnoxious smell. Police officers and firefighters broke into the flat and found 14 cats in the flat, although the woman was not present.

As stated in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance Cap 169, anyone who is in charge of any animal in confinement or captivity but neglects to supply such animal with sufficient food and fresh water can be convicted to a fine of HK$200,000 and imprisonment for three years.

Courtesy of Pik Hok Yau, Tim

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With the height of summer fast approaching, and a lack of public beaches in Hong Kong permitting canine companions, ‘pet pools’ have risen in popularity as an outlet for owners to socialise, pamper, and provide temporary respite for their dogs.

However, in response to several incidents of pet illness and death during and after swimming sessions, the Consumer Council commenced an investigation into businesses advertising such facilities. The council’s report flagged industry-specific issues concerning the welfare of animals left in the care of luxury service providers.

With the current lack of industry regulation, responsibility for animal wellbeing at pet pools continues to lie with pet owners themselves. Increased pressure on luxury pet business managers to freely publicise detailed information about their facilities and staff is necessary. In the meantime, owners are urged to conduct comprehensive preparatory research and supervise pets during water-based activities where possible. 

Courtesy of Saskia Sinha

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