Fw: Hong Kong: Lantau Random Cow-Culling

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" Living Islands " <info

" Living Islands " <info

Thursday, May 26, 2005 6:42 PM

Lantau Random Cow-Culling

 

 

Dear members and friends

 

You have probably read in the Press of the random culling of cows by

Agricultural and Fisheries Dept officers in Mui Wo.

 

 

This has caused considerable distress, shock and revulsion amongst

residents, and young children who saw this cull were totally traumatized. A

large number of residents are in favour of allowing these cows to remain,

and we are not prepared to allow these random culls to continue. Yes, a

planned animal management program is required, but random culling, which

destroys the cohesion of the herd and weakens the gene pool, must cease.

 

 

 

Please look at http://cool.as/cows - there is a petition on there, and we

will be adding more information shortly. Please tell your friends to do

likewise. Can I please ask you also to email the Director of Ag & Fish

tcychan - please feel free to cut and paste bits of this email

if you wish.

 

 

 

It is important that action is taken NOW, as further culls are being

planned.

 

 

We have discussed this matter with our elected representatives, who will be

in touch with Ag & Fish shortly.

 

 

 

My wife and I have observed and monitored the cows on Lantau for nearly 20

years, and have considerable knowledge of habits, diet, herd-size and

structure etc, knowledge which we will be happy to share with Ag & Fish.

 

 

 

We understand that this cull was in response to absurd complaints from some

people, like “I fell off my bicycle when I swerved to avoid oneâ€.

 

 

 

We must insist that no further animals are taken away until a proper animal

management program is put in place.

 

 

 

These are docile and gentle animals; they are not aggressive and pose no

risk to humans.

 

 

 

They are part of Lantau’s heritage, culture and tradition – as you know,

they were originally used as draught animals in paddy-fields. They are a

tourist attraction, and a vital part of the ecosystem, since by their

grazing they keep the vegetation in balance. They are a valuable source of

fertilizer for farmers and gardeners.

 

 

 

They are not a danger on the roads – a cow is a large slow moving animal,

and anyone who hits one is driving too fast. Lantau’s mad drivers should

be culled, and not the cows. The cows are “traffic-calmers†– forcing

people to drive more slowly and more carefully.

 

 

 

There are about 60 of these animals left. They live up in the hills and

only occasionally come down to the villages. Why have they come down to the

villages? It is due to official inaction and negligence. The hillsides were

burnt recently by negligent gravesweepers. The Home Affairs Department has

for years refused to take responsibility for effectively preventing these

hill fires, and putting in place effective firefighting measures. As a

result, country parks (whose management, let us not forget, is the

responsibility of Ag & Fish themselves) have been ravaged and the cattle’s

harmless and beneficial grazing has been destroyed.

 

 

 

Further culls are unacceptable, and we must insist that they be suspended

until a proper management scheme is set up.

 

 

 

Bob Bunker