Hogzilla Caught On Tape Digging Through Elementary School's Dumpster

Feb 27, 2019

Some parents from a school in Hong Kong were shocked to find out about a wild boar who was caught on video rummaging aggressively through the school's dumpster in search of a tasty snack. The footage has caused controversy between locals who are worried about student safety and animal rights activists who want the boar to be protected.

Activist Roni Wong complained about hunters and the media sending a demonizing message about the wild boars to the general public. Wong contends that the boars are not normally known to attack anyone unless they're provoked.

“Wild boars have been demonized by hunters, local media and people who misunderstand them. In fact, if you don’t provoke them, they will not attack you. They are actually afraid of people,” animal rights activist Roni Wong told the Hong Kong Free Press.

Since wild boar are native to the area, activists believe they have a right to be there. It's not their fault, activists say, that people have encroached upon their habitat and built houses and commercial buildings.

Many of the locals in areas with wild boar have a different point of view. They consider the animals a nuisance and potential threat, and often form hunting parties to keep their numbers down. Activists want to see less destruction of feral hogs and more understanding on the part of local area residents.

If a person notices a wild boar, they're supposed to alert the authorities. Activists like Wong don't want the police to be notified because they often immediately decide to destroy the hogs. Instead, Wong says people should enjoy their interaction with the boars and then give them a chance to flee.

Activists don't want people to get the wrong idea about how they should treat the boars. They're not suggesting that people get up close and personal with them and turn them into pets. Instead, they argue that the animals should be treated with dignity and respect as the wild creatures that they are according to nature.

Feeding the pigs on purpose can actually be counterproductive, according to Wong. It could cause them to rely on humans for food, lose their natural cautiousness around people, and then actually become a threat.

What are your thoughts about this intense video footage of a feral hog rifling through the trash at a Hong Kong school? We'd love to read your thoughts in the comments below. Pass this story along to anyone who has an interest in seeing wildlife interact with humans.