Cops called in to tackle wild boar at HK mall

HONG KONG - A wild boar which strayed into Hong Kong's urban jungle caused havoc when it wandered into a shop, forcing staff and customers to leave, the authorities said yesterday.

The 25kg female, around 0.91m long, ventured into a children's wear shop at a mall in the crowded Chai Wan district late on Sunday.

"The wild pig entered a shop and people called the police. When officers arrived, staff and customers were evacuated. It then went up to seek a hideout in the loft," a police spokesman told Agence France-Presse.

During a stand-off with about 10 officers that lasted several hours, the animal also briefly entered a changing room, knocked down and bit a mannequin, the South China Morning Post reported.

Eventually, it was tranquillised and taken to an animal centre for observation. It was likely to be released back into the wild later.

The Post said that the incident was the second such incursion of the day, after a boar was seen taking a swim at a pool in a public park in Tsuen Wan. It was tranquillised and returned to the wild.

Despite its densely packed high-rise districts, country parks and nature reserves make up 40 per cent of Hong Kong's land area.

It is not especially unusual for wildlife - notably pythons and other snakes - to find their way into urban areas.

The authorities have advised the public to avoid contact with boars, which have been known to charge at humans.