The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government received 135 complaints about damage caused by wild boars in the first 11 months of the year, an increase on the 116 cases reported in 2005.

Farmers in some areas where the boars roam have conducted independent hunting expeditions over the past three years when the government failed to respond to their calls for help.

Farmers have captured or killed 64 wild boars since 2003, including 52 this year alone.

Secretary for Environment and Transport Sarah Liao said on Thursday that wild boars multiply quickly because they have no natural enemies in Hong Kong.

But she added that the government does not have any statistics on the number of wild boars living in the SAR or on the level of threat they pose to the farming community.

She said she would discuss the problem with the Environmental Protection Department to see if it is necessary to train farmers in dealing with the animals.

(www.881903.com)