Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ8: Contraceptive/neutering treatment for wild monkeys
Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Cheng and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(May 27):
Question:
I have learnt that in February 2009, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Department (AFCD) gave an undertaking to the Animal Welfare Advisory Group that
the authorities would formally implement the "trap-neuter-return" trial
programme (the trial programme) for stray dogs within this year provided that
the programme had the support of the public. On the other hand, AFCD is now
implementing a similar programme for wild monkeys. In this connection, will the
Government inform this Council:
(a) how it assesses if the public support the implementation of the trial
programme;
(b) which District Councils currently support the trial programme in principle,
and whether it will implement the programme in the District Council districts
concerned first; and
(c) whether it has assessed the effectiveness of the similar programme
implemented for wild monkeys; if so, of the assessment outcome; and the
respective numbers of wild monkeys in each of the five years before and after
the implementation of the programme concerned?
Reply:
President,
(a) & (b) Local animal welfare organisations have earlier proposed to the
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) the introduction of a
"Trap-Neuter-Return" (TNR) trial programme for stray dogs. Apart from examining
the feasibility of the programme from the technical and legal perspectives, it
was also necessary to ascertain public support. In this connection, the AFCD, in
collaboration with the animal welfare organisation which has advocated this
programme, consulted the 18 District Councils (DCs) on the TNR trial programme
in 2007. The outcome of the consultation showed that the DCs held differing
views. Nine of the 18 DCs (namely, the Central and Western District, Wan Chai
District, North District, Yau Tsim Mong District, Eastern District, Kwun Tong
District, Yuen Long District, Sai Kung District and Sha Tin District) supported
in principle the implementation of the programme in their districts, while seven
(namely, the Islands District, Wong Tai Sin District, Southern District, Tsuen
Wan District, Kowloon City District, Kwai Tsing District and Tai Po District)
expressed objection. The Sham Shui Po District and Tuen Mun District made no
indication.
Based on the outcome of the consultation described above, the animal welfare
organisations concerned have indicated that they would identify suitable sites
for implementing the trial programme in the nine districts which have indicated
in-principle support. At present, the AFCD and the organisations concerned are
actively examining the implementation details and the pertinent legal issues.
Upon finalising the details, the AFCD will, in collaboration with the
organisations, consult the DCs concerned again. The AFCD will also encourage the
organisations to further consult local residents in the vicinity of the sites
selected for the trial programme, with a view to seeking community support for a
smooth implementation of the trial programme.
(c) According to the Environment Bureau, the AFCD estimated in 2004 that there
were about 1 500 to 1 600 wild monkeys in Hong Kong and their population was
increasing at an annual rate of 6% to 8%. Based on a survey on local wild
monkeys conducted by the AFCD in 2008, it was estimated that there were some 2
100 wild monkeys in Hong Kong. They were mainly found in the Kam Shan, Lion Rock
and Shing Mun Country Parks and the Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve.
To control the population of local wild monkeys in the long term, the AFCD has
been conducting small-scale field trial programmes of catching and conducting
contraceptive/neutering treatment for wild monkeys since 2002. Results indicated
that most of the female monkeys given contraceptive treatment showed no signs of
pregnancy in the following few years. Given the initial success, the AFCD
extended the contraceptive/neutering programme in 2007 to cover the wild monkeys
in the Kam Shan and Lion Rock Country Parks. To date, over 860 wild monkeys have
received the contraceptive/neutering treatment. As the contraceptive/neutering
treatment was carried out mostly in or after 2007, the actual growth rate of
wild monkey population is yet to be ascertained. The AFCD will continue to
monitor changes in the number of wild monkey communities.
Ends/Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Issued at HKT 12:00
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