Talk of the town：Culling operation sparked anger
【明報專訊】Immediately after the implementation of the new policy, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) conducted a culling operation on 17 November night. A road in Aberdeen was closed and a group of boars was lured with food, then shot with tranquilizer darts(鎮定劑) before being put down. The new decision sparked controversies.
Several conservationist groups, such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and some online concern groups, severely opposed the action by the government. Tens of thousands of people signed an online petition calling for the withdrawal of the new policy, while the government defended their action by stressing the potential threat posed by wild boars to humans.
The AFCD used to adopt the ''Trap-Neuter-Return'' policy which prevented wild boars from breeding and relocated them to remote areas. Yet, the old policy was not efficient enough to reduce the number of wild boars, according to the government.
◆What is humane dispatch?
Humane dispatch is the way to cull animals in distress, such as those suffering from injuring or wounding. It aims to avoid unnecessary suffering of the animals.
In the case of wild boars, the government injects lethal medicine into the wild boars after capturing them, while they are not suffering from distress. Hence, some conservationist groups condemn that the ''humane dispatch'' conducted by the government was merely the killing of animals.
What are your thoughts? Do you think we should cull wild boars when they seem to pose a threat to humans?
◆Grammar booster
Used to
Done or experienced in the past.
e.g. I used to live in Sheung Wan, but I couldn't afford the rent there so I moved away from the district.
Be/Get used to
Be familiar with, be accustomed to.
e.g. I am used to the fast-paced living style in Hong Kong.
■ Gear up
1. Food is used as bait to capture the wild boars in the operation on 17 November.(True/ False)
2. The AFCD is adopting Trap-Neuter-Return policy towards the wild boars.(True/ False)
(Answers on next text)
■Glossary
cull (v) 宰殺
controversy (n) 爭議
threat (n) 威脅
distress (n) 痛苦
[Smarties' Power English 第330期]
Comic：Nicolaus Copernicus and how we see the world
【明報專訊】Eason is hawking something in the park. “ Eason: This drink i... 詳情
