Wild Pig Nuisance

Ecology & habits  

Adult wild pig	Piglet

Problems caused by feeding wild pigs

Some people enjoy feeding wild pigs and even have concerns that the animals might be starving in the wild, believing that they should be fed regularly like pets.  However, there is already an abundance of natural food available for wild pigs in countryside areas, and they do not require human feeding.  In fact, human feeding can lead to the following negative consequences:

• Given the strong reproductive capacity and adaptability of wild pigs and the lack of natural predators, feeding would facilitate the rapid proliferation of wild pig population.

• Human feeding encourages wild pigs to roam and gather in residential or urban areas, causing nuisance to the public and potentially even resulting in traffic accidents.

• Frequent contact with humans has caused some wild pigs to lose their natural fear of humans.  As a result, their behavior may become increasingly aggressive, posing a danger to the general public.  This can also increase the risk of disease transmission.

• Leftover food can lead to environmental hygiene problems.

Preventive measures for wild pig nuisance

How to handle encounters with wild pigs

• When encountering wild pigs, remain keep calm, stay away and leave them undisturbed;

• Do not touch any wild pigs, including piglets;

• If necessary, take cover behind barriers and wait for the wild pigs to leave before continuing;

• Do not throw objects at or try to chase away the wild pigs away, as it may provoke them and lead to danger;

• Do not corner wild pigs or block their escape routes; and

• If disturbed by wild pigs, you can call 1823 to notify this department for follow-up.  In case of an emergency, you should immediately call 999 to request police assistance.

Wild Animals Protection Ordinance

According to the current Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170) ("the Ordinance"), feeding of wild animals (including wild pigs, monkeys and wild birds) is prohibited across the entire territory of Hong Kong.  Offenders may be prosecuted and subject to a maximum fine of $10,000 upon conviction.  To further curb illegal feeding activities and strengthen deterrence effect, the Government has submitted the Wild Animals Protection (Amendment) Bill 2023 ("the Bills") to the Legislative Council in November 2023.  The Bill increases the maximum penalty for illegal feeding to a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year; introduces a fixed penalty system with a fine of $5,000 for illegal feeding; and expands the categories of enforcement officers, etc.  The Bill has been passed by the Legislative Council and will come into effect on 1 August 2024.  

Wild Pig Capture Operation

Since November 2021, AFCD has launched regular wild pig capture operations at urban and rural sites with large numbers of wild pigs, and those sites with past injury cases or with pigs which may pose risks to members of the public.  Furthermore, upon receiving reports about wild pig sightings in urban areas or residential areas from citizens or other government departments, the AFCD will also perform ad hoc operations to capture the wild pigs which pose potential danger or cause nuisance to members of the public.   In recent years, AFCD has further allocated resources to increase the frequency of capture operations, and enhanced the operation efficiency by making use of online surveillance camera and new animal traps.  

Since November 2021, AFCD has captured and dispatched 1,146 wild pigs as at 26 July 2024. The number of wild pigs captured and humanely dispatched are as follows.

Please click the icon to download leaflet of "Hong Kong Wildlife: Wild Pig" 

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