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    Hiking surge leaves wild cows starving on Hong Kong island

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    Sunday, February 28, 2021
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    Hiking surge leaves wild cows starving on Hong Kong island

    Visitors on Grass Island surged during the coronavirus pandemic


    Published:  February 10, 2021 11:09 AFP  and  Compiled by Christian Borbon, Senior Web Editor

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    Copy of 504904-01-02-1612933938698
    While many hope the Year of the Ox will herald times of plenty, a herd of wild cows in Hong Kong is going hungry after visitors to their habitat surged during the coronavirus pandemic. Image Credit: AFP
    2 of 15
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    The animals have made their home for generations alongside a few dozen fishing families on Grass Island, one of Hong Kong's far-flung islets. Image Credit: AFP
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    Named for its verdant meadows, the island is closer to mainland China than Hong Kong's skyscraper-studded harbourfront and is reached by a long bus and ferry ride. Image Credit: AFP
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    Until the coronavirus struck last year, a largely manageable number of hikers and campers made their way to the island. Image Credit: AFP
    5 of 15
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    But with overseas travel no longer possible for most Hong Kongers, a huge influx of visitors has arrived as residents look for ways to escape the confines of social distancing in one of the world's most densely populated cities. Image Credit: AFP
    6 of 15
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    "Suddenly there are massive numbers of people coming and trampling on the grass," said Ho Loy, chairwoman of Lantau Buffalo Association, an activist group that campaigns to protect Hong Kong's wild buffalos and cows. Image Credit: AFP
    7 of 15
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    The once grassy pastures have transformed into barren dirt, wiping out the primary food source for the island's herd of feral cows. Image Credit: AFP
    8 of 15
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    All across the island, popular hiking trails that slice through thick carpets of grass have become increasingly bare, while the main campsite, where the island's cows would often come to feed among the tents, has become little more than a brown patch of sandy earth. Image Credit: AFP
    9 of 15
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    The situation has become so bad that volunteers have begun shipping feed into Grass Island to stop the herd from starving. Image Credit: AFP
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    On a recent weekend, the group spent three hours travelling to some of Hong Kong's more remote villages to collect fresh hay using sickles and scissors. | Volunteers collecting grass to be taken to cattle on the remote Grass Island. Image Credit: AFP
    11 of 15
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    They then transported it to Grass Island where the hungry herd soon emerged to tuck into their delivery. Image Credit: AFP
    12 of 15
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    Without grass, the cows turn increasingly to visitors or rummage through the rubbish left behind, with potentially fatal consequences. Image Credit: AFP
    13 of 15
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    Ho said many visitors do not know enough about wildlife protection and often feed the cows because they are sociable, friendly animals. Image Credit: AFP
    14 of 15
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    As well as feeding the cows, volunteers visited campers to spread awareness about protecting the animals and to remind them not to leave rubbish behind. Image Credit: AFP
    15 of 15
    Copy of 504908-01-02-1612933951319
    "This is a natural beauty of Hong Kong that's going to be lost," said Wai's husband, Freddy Ramaker. "I think people should care." Image Credit: AFP

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