Ecology & habits
Wild Pig (Sus scrofa) is a common and widespread native mammal in Hong Kong. Adults can weigh up to 200 kg and reach a body length up to 2 m. They have thick and short bristly coats ranging from brownish grey to black. Piglets are light brown with darker stripes on their coat for camouflage. This pattern typically fades within the first six months to one year of age. Adult males possess tusks that protrude from the corners of their mouth.
Wild pigs have successfully adapted to the various habitats, including forests, grasslands, and rural areas. They are primarily herbivorous, consuming a range of plant materials such as grass, roots, tubers, and fallen fruits. However, they are opportunistic omnivores and will also scavenge for food, including insects, small animals, and even human food waste found in garbage.
In general, wild pigs are secretive and wary of human contact. However, if provoked or threatened, they may become aggressive and potentially attack humans, especially adult males and sows with piglets.
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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Leftover food can lead to environmental hygiene problems.
Preventive measures for wild pig nuisance
Some wild pigs intrude into villages and urban areas in search of food, causing disturbance and damage of crops and personal properties. In order to reduce the nuisance caused by wild pigs, preventive measures are recommended as follows:
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Do not feed any wild or stray animals, as food remains will attract wild pigs to congregate near the feeding sites;
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Manage outdoor rubbish bins properly or use animal-proof rubbish bins to reduce any possible food sources for wild pigs; and
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Erect sturdy fences to protect crops or use infrared auto-trigger audio or lighting devices to deter wild pigs.
How to handle encounters with wild pigs
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When encountering wild pigs, remain keep calm, stay away and leave them undisturbed;
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Do not touch any wild pigs, including piglets;
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If necessary, take cover behind barriers and wait for the wild pigs to leave before continuing;
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Do not throw objects at or try to chase away the wild pigs away, as it may provoke them and lead to danger;
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Do not corner wild pigs or block their escape routes; and
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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 Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170), illegal feeding of wild animals (including wild pigs, monkeys and wild birds) is liable to a fixed penalty fine of $5,000 or prosecution with a maximum penalty of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year.
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 1,688 wild pigs as at 20 May 2025. The number of wild pigs captured and humanely dispatched are as follows.
Number |
Date |
Location |
No. of Wild Pigs |
1. to 686. |
November 2021 to December 2024 |

686 Capture Operations, humanely dispatched 1481 wild pigs
|
687. |
1 January 2025 |
Wing Chuk Street |
1 |
688. |
8 January 2025 |
Pai Tau |
1 |
689. |
8 January 2025 |
Lok Lo Ha |
2 |
690. |
9 January 2025 |
Shan Tong Road |
1 |
691. |
9 January 2025 |
Fuk Hang Tsuen Road |
4 |
692. |
9 January 2025 |
Tin King Road |
3 |
693. |
15 January 2025 |
Hoi Ying Road |
1 |
694. |
15 January 2025 |
Fu Uk Road |
2 |
695. |
15 January 2025 |
Ting Yat Road |
5 |
696. |
16 January 2025 |
Hoi Ying Road |
1 |
697. |
16 January 2025 |
Peel Rise |
1 |
698. |
16 January 2025 |
Wong Chuk Hang |
6 |
699. |
20 January 2025 |
Shek O |
2 |
700. |
20 January 2025 |
Kau Sai Chau |
1 |
701. |
21 January 2025 |
Lingnan University |
1 |
702. |
21 January 2025 |
Tai Au Mun |
1 |
703. |
22 January 2025 |
Shek O |
1 |
704. |
22 January 2025 |
Po Ping Road |
2 |
705. |
23 January 2025 |
Chai Wan Road |
1 |
706. |
26 January 2025 |
Wong Nai Chung Gap Road |
1 |
707. |
28 January 2025 |
Peel Rise |
2 |
708. |
4 February 2025 |
Mount Davis Road |
1 |
709. |
5 February 2025 |
Tap Mun |
1 |
710. |
6 February 2025 |
Kotewall Road |
5 |
711. |
6 February 2025 |
Tin Hau Temple Road |
2 |
712. |
6 February 2025 |
Cape Collinson Road |
1 |
713. |
7 February 2025 |
Yau Kom Tau |
1 |
714. |
9 February 2025 |
Piper's Hill Road |
1 |
715. |
13 February 2025 |
Victoria Road |
4 |
716. |
14 February 2025 |
Hin Keng |
1 |
717. |
18 February 2025 |
Coombe Road |
1 |
718. |
18 February 2025 |
Kau To |
1 |
719. |
18 February 2025 |
Ma Lok Path |
4 |
720. |
18 February 2025 |
Tin Sum |
1 |
721. |
20 February 2025 |
Pai Tau |
2 |
722. |
21 February 2025 |
Smithfield |
8 |
723. |
21 February 2025 |
Yee King Road |
1 |
724. |
25 February 2025 |
Tai Shui Hang |
2 |
725. |
25 February 2025 |
Deep Water Bay Drive |
1 |
726. |
25 February 2025 |
Lung Ha Wan Road |
7 |
727. |
25 February 2025 |
Che Ha |
1 |
728. |
26 February 2025 |
Chai Wan Road |
1 |
729. |
27 February 2025 |
Chuk Yau Road |
1 |
730. |
27 February 2025 |
Chun Shin Road |
2 |
731. |
4 March 2025 |
Tap Mun |
1 |
732 |
6 March 2025 |
Castle Peak Road - San Tin |
3 |
733. |
6 March 2025 |
Nam Sang Wai |
1 |
734. |
6 March 2025 |
Coombe Road |
1 |
735 |
6 March 2025 |
Mansfield Road |
1 |
736. |
6 March 2025 |
Borrett Road |
1 |
737. |
6 March 2025 |
Smithfield |
4 |
738 |
7 March 2025 |
Tin King Road |
1 |
739. |
11 March 2025 |
Sam Mun Tsai |
2 |
740. |
11 March 2025 |
Wong Yue Tan |
2 |
741. |
14 March 2025 |
Cheung Sha Sheung Tsuen |
1 |
742. |
16 March 2025 |
Sports Road |
1 |
743. |
17 March 2025 |
Nam Fung Path |
1 |
744. |
18 March 2025 |
King San Path |
7 |
745. |
18 March 2025 |
Chun Shin Road |
3 |
746. |
19 March 2025 |
Peel Rise |
1 |
747. |
20 March 2025 |
Peel Rise |
1 |
748. |
21 March 2025 |
Peel Rise |
1 |
749. |
25 March 2025 |
To Fung Shan |
1 |
750. |
25 March 2025 |
Tin Sum |
1 |
751. |
25 March 2025 |
Hin Keng |
3 |
752. |
27 March 2025 |
Homestead Road |
2 |
753. |
28 March 2025 |
Victoria Road |
1 |
754. |
28 March 2025 |
Wilson Road |
1 |
755. |
1 April 2025 |
Fuk Hang Tsuen Road |
2 |
756. |
2 April 2025 |
Shung Him Tong Tsuen |
1 |
757. |
3 April 2025 |
Sam Mun Tsai |
1 |
758. |
3 April 2025 |
Wilson Road |
1 |
759. |
3 April 2025 |
Tung Lo Wan Hill Road |
1 |
760. |
8 April 2025 |
So Kwu Wat Road |
1 |
761. |
8 April 2025 |
Sheung Kok Shan Road |
1 |
762. |
9 April 2025 |
Ma Yau Tong Road |
2 |
763. |
9 April 2025 |
Sheung Kok Shan Road |
2 |
764. |
9 April 2025 |
Fu Uk Road Rest Garden |
3 |
765. |
10 April 2025 |
Sheung Kok Shan Road |
1 |
766. |
10 April 2025 |
Pik Wan Road |
2 |
767. |
15 April 2025 |
Kak Tin |
1 |
768. |
15 April 2025 |
Welfare Road |
1 |
769. |
15 April 2025 |
University Drive |
1 |
770. |
15 April 2025 |
Kotewall Road |
1 |
771. |
15 April 2025 |
Cape D'Aguilar Road |
5 |
772. |
16 April 2025 |
Hin Keng |
2 |
773. |
16 April 2025 |
Kau To |
1 |
774. |
17 April 2025 |
Nam Fung Road |
1 |
775. |
17 April 2025 |
Kau To |
1 |
776. |
21 April 2025 |
Blue Pool Road |
1 |
777. |
22 April 2025 |
Chai Wan Road |
1 |
778. |
23 April 2025 |
Chai Wan Road |
1 |
779. |
23 April 2025 |
Lai Chi Wo |
2 |
780. |
24 April 2025 |
Mount Parker Road |
1 |
781. |
24 April 2025 |
Stubbs Road |
2 |
782. |
24 April 2025 |
Deep Water Bay Path |
1 |
783. |
24 April 2025 |
Cape D'Aguilar Road |
2 |
784. |
27 April 2025 |
Repulse Bay Road |
2 |
785. |
28 April 2025 |
Lok Lo Ha |
2 |
786. |
29 April 2025 |
Ma Yau Tong |
1 |
787. |
30 April 2025 |
Ma Yau Tong |
4 |
788. |
6 May 2025 |
Kau Sai Chau |
2 |
789. |
6 May 2025 |
Kai Yuen Street |
1 |
790. |
7 May 2025 |
Lok Lo Ha |
2 |
791. |
7 May 2025 |
Kau To |
3 |
792. |
7 May 2025 |
Hin Keng |
1 |
793. |
7 May 2025 |
Ting Kau |
1 |
794. |
7 May 2025 |
So Kwun Wat Road |
1 |
795. |
7 May 2025 |
Castle Peak Road - San Tin |
1 |
796. |
8 May 2025 |
Fu Tei Road |
6 |
797. |
13 May 2025 |
Wilson Road |
1 |
798. |
14 May 2025 |
Peel Rise |
1 |
799. |
15 May 2025 |
Cadogan Street |
1 |
800. |
15 May 2025 |
Wah Kwai Road |
1 |
801. |
20 May 2025 |
Che Ha |
1 |
Total: |
1,688 |
|
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