25/01/2025
See below LIM's email to the Ombudsman re: Investigation into Animal Management and Welfare in Hong Kong - Water Buffalo & Brown Cattle Herds on Lantau Island:
As part of the investigation you announced on 27th December last year, Living Islands Movement (LIM) would like to offer the following comments on the deteriorating situation of Lantau’s Water Buffalo and Brown Cattle herds:
The Government’s stated policy towards Lantau Island as expressed in the mandate of Sustainable Lantau Office is “Development in the North, Conservation in the South”.
Much work has been done in recent years to, for example, rezone the South Lantau Coast to reflect this policy and designate certain parts as Conservation Areas - including the Pui O wetlands, which is noted for the fine buffalo herd there and symbiotic flora and fauna.
However, as regards the conservation of much-loved Buffalo and Brown Cattle herds, we find that AFCD’s approach towards them has been ambivalent and inconsistent over a long period of time.
This appears to reflect the divergence in opinion between development interests represented by bodies such as LANDAC, Island District Council and Rural Committees, which see the animals as an obstacle to the building of more Village Houses (“Small Houses”) etc., and the wider public.
On the other hand, the great majority of ordinary residents, visitors and tourists greatly value the Buffalo and Cattle and the contribution they make to the peaceful, natural, bio-diverse ambience of rural Lantau.
Some senior management of AFCD have in the past stated that they do not consider that Buffalo (in particular) have any conservation value. This is highly controversial among other experts and it is clear that the wetland environments mentioned will be radically altered if buffalo are not present.
At the same time, AFCD Cattle Management Division have implemented a programme of Capture, Sterilization (particularly of female animals) and Return. The stated intention is to stabilize the populations at sustainable levels so that the Buffalo and Cattle can co-exist with the people of Lantau and Hong Kong.
Unfortunately, however, recent events, including the sad death of the only buffalo calf born last year on Lantau, the fact that no new brown cattle calves have been born for several years and the abrupt removal of a (unknown) number of animals, strongly suggest that this policy has been pushed too far. We believe it should be reviewed and corrected.
We welcome your decision to investigate animal management issues in Hong Kong and in particular those concerning the Buffalo and Brown Cattle Herds on Lantau. We trust that the outcome will lead to a more clear, open and effective management regime that ensures the long-term survival of Lantau’s iconic herds, in a sustainable manner, to the benefit of all.
