Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ17: Management of stray cattle
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hak-kan and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council
today (November 1):
Question:
Regarding the management of stray cattle, will the Government inform this
Council:
(1) of the number of stray cattle captured, sterilised and relocated by the
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) in each year since the
Capture-Sterilisation-Relocation Programme was launched in 2011; the current
health conditions of such cattle;
(2) as it has been reported that AFCD relocated stray cattle to Chong Hing Water
Sports Centre in Sai Kung, but that place does not have sufficient grass and
water for cattle's consumption nor enough woodland for their shelter, and the
cattle may easily be knocked down by vehicles as there are many vehicles
travelling there during holidays, of the measures put in place by AFCD to
improve the living environment of such cattle, and whether AFCD will review its
criteria for selecting the destinations for cattle relocation;
(3) as some members of the public have gone to Chong Hing Water Sports Centre to
feed the cattle, whether AFCD has assessed if the fodder used is suitable for
feeding the cattle and if such action will result in the cattle losing their
instinct to forage for food; if so, of the assessment outcome; of the measures
put in place to ensure that the stray cattle in various country parks are
healthy and have enough food;
(4) of the number of stray cattle which sustained injuries or died after being
hit by vehicles in each of the past five years; the measures put in place by the
authorities to reduce such traffic accidents; as some members of the public have
suggested fitting stray cattle with reflective collars to enable drivers to
notice cattle wandering on the roads at night, with a view to reducing such
traffic accidents, whether the authorities will consider adopting the
suggestion; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(5) given that AFCD has all along been exploring for years the feasibility of
the proposal of installing cattle grids to confine the movements of stray
cattle, but it has so far not yet implemented the proposal, of the latest
findings of its exploration (including the problems that may be involved), and
whether it has any implementation timetable for the proposal;
(6) whether AFCD has made reference to other practices in overseas countries,
with a view to formulating measures to effectively confine the movements of
stray cattle and reduce traffic accidents involving cattle; if so, of the
details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(7) as it has been reported that in Sai Kung in September this year, after a cow
had been hit by a taxi and died, a person at the scene who suspected the cow was
pregnant cut open the abdomen of the cow at the roadside in an attempt to save
the life of an unborn calf, whether such an act of a person who is not a
registered veterinary surgeon is legal and subject to regulation by law; how the
Government currently handles animals (including cattle) injured in traffic
accidents which are suspected to be pregnant?
Reply:
President,
Having consulted the Transport and Housing Bureau, my reply to the various parts
of the question is as follows:
(1) Since the end of 2011, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Department (AFCD) has been implementing the Capture-Sterilise-Relocate programme
for stray cattle to control their population and reduce the nuisance caused to
nearby residents. Over the past three years (i.e. 2014-16), a total of 60, 70
and 69 heads of cattle respectively were relocated after being captured and
sterilised where circumstances warranted. AFCD conducts on-site inspections at
the places to which the cattle are relocated on a weekly basis to observe the
cattle's conditions. Overall speaking, most of the relocated cattle have been in
good health conditions since the launch of the programme.
(2) and (3) The siting criteria of AFCD for cattle relocation include ensuring
adequacy in food, water, woodland and shelter for the cattle, and that the sites
are kept at a distance from public roads in the urban areas. AFCD will review
from time to time the sites for relocation of cattle to assess whether the
habitat continues to be suitable for cattle.
Located within the Sai Kung Country Park, Chong Hing Water Sports Centre in Sai
Kung complies with the above siting criteria and provides a suitable living
environment for cattle. The cattle can roam around freely in the country park,
and live with the feral cattle originally inhabited there. With about 4 500
hectares of green space, the Sai Kung Country Park has abundant natural
resources (including plants, water and woodland) to provide adequate food and a
suitable habitat for cattle in all seasons.
AFCD does not encourage members of the public to feed stray cattle, and has
reminded cattle concern groups to stop feeding them. When members of the public
are found feeding cattle during AFCD's regular inspections, they will also be
reminded the same. Stray cattle by nature forage in the wild. Providing food for
cattle may affect their natural behaviour and survival instinct, causing them to
become reliant on human for food. Over time, stray cattle may even seek food
from countryside visitors and take in food that is inappropriate for their
consumption (such as meat).
(4), (5) and (6) The Government does not have statistics on the number of cattle
injured or died in traffic accidents. Appropriate traffic signs are erected by
the Transport Department at road sections where necessary to alert drivers of
cattle.
AFCD notes that cattle concern groups have put reflective strips on some cattle.
However, AFCD is of the view that relocating cattle to spots with lower traffic
flows is more effective than putting reflective strips on cattle in minimising
traffic accidents involving cattle. AFCD will continue with the work of
relocating cattle to country parks.
AFCD and relevant departments have carried out a detailed study on cattle grids,
which found that such facilities are generally used on private land in farms in
foreign countries to prevent cattle from going outside the farms. With reference
to the overseas experience, it is considered that there are potential safety
hazards to road users if cattle grids are installed on local public roads.
(7) In case of animal (including cattle) getting injured in a traffic accident,
the frontline Police officers will inform AFCD or the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) for follow-up actions. Depending on their
respective condition, injured animals will normally be sent to SPCA for
treatment. Regarding cattle injured, AFCD officers will attend the scene to
determine whether the injured cattle is suitable for treatment on the spot or
needs to be sent to AFCD's farm for detailed inspection and treatment, based on
the specific circumstances of the case (including the degree of injury and
whether the injured cattle is pregnant).
In the absence of appropriate medical facilities, and on public health grounds,
normally no surgery will be performed by veterinary surgeons on animals at the
scene of accident. Anyone who wantonly or unreasonably does any act causing any
unnecessary suffering to injured animals would contravene the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169) and may be prosecuted.
Ends/Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:00
NNNN