The Windownesian
Chapter 12
The Boar Roars

6

        Thursday, February the tenth, noon. The commissioner of the police comes out of a hospital and faces the press.

“It is with grave sadness we announce that the officer attacked by the boar didn’t survive. Four men are also knocked out. Other than that, 2 reporters are hurt in this clash. All 12 boars have been dealt with. That’s all for today. We won’t answer any inquiries at this stage.”

 

        Meander arrives at her studio earlier than she usually is as she gets a call from the director. Meander works part-time for the radio programme called ‘The People’. 

        “Emily,” she asks director Cheung, “are you sure it is a wise move? We haven’t had two interviewees with possibly contrasting views in the same studio.”

        “I know,” says the director, “that’s why I need you here.”

        “But no matter what we ask, we might create arguments and spark wars,” Meander reminds.

        “The mission of ‘The People’ as always, Meander, is to reveal truths and views when most other media ain’t willing to. And give chance, for citizens to inquire more about important things happening in our society.”

        “That I know. I am just…concerned about our guest. We are sparking war you know.”

        “I have that arranged,” explains director Cheung, “they will not arrive together, sit together and leave together. I have hired men to escort each one to enter, stay and leave at different places. To dodge the press and the crowd, and, each other. I also need your friends too.”

        “They are in position.”

 

        I accompany a man dressed in a uniform march into a small recording room where the other host Martin Tai is already there. I hear that Meander is in the main studio with an old white man. The whole studio is busy setting up equipment and contingency plans. As the soft music from the previous programme ends, the director counts down for ours to begin. And five, four, three, two, one…

        “Good evening ladies and gentlemen, welcome to ‘The People’, guardian of your voice and your right to information. I am your host, Meander Lee. Yesterday evening, we saw an unfortunate tragedy between men and boars, leading to several deaths. We…before the programme starts, ‘The People’ values all lives, I would like to have one minute of silence, to mourn for all lives lost.”

The entire studio stands straight in the sound of nothingness.

        “Thank you. May the dead rest in peace, and the living be comforted. Now let’s move on to our topic. Here, with me in the studio, we have Operations Assistant Commissioner of Police Mister KWOK Pak-chung Patrick. Welcome, Mister Kwok.”

        “Good evening Ms Lee.”

        “And we have also invited the ​​Board of WWF World Wildlife Fund, Professor of Ecology & Biodiversity and Director of the School of Biological Sciences in the Science Faculty at the University of Hong Kong, Professor David Dudgeon. Welcome Professor Dudgeon.”

        “Pleased to be here. Please Meander, just call me David.”

        “So gentlemen, let’s get right into the topic. What do you guys think about animals?”

        “I have studied a lot about biological science,” says David, “so my view according to years of research and observation is that, animals, all sorts of animals have their own personality and habits. We humans, should and actually can live with them and share the planet. In many cases, many animals are actually misunderstood and there are always ways of harmony. That’s my take on animals in general.”

        “Well I do agree that some animals can live with us,” says Mr Kwok, “I have a dog. Rocky and I have gone a long way since I was a cadet. She and I are good friends at work and in private who trust each other. But there are some animals that should not live with us. Some animals are too dirty for us. Some animals are a threat to us.”

        “I think you misunderstood me, Kwok sir, when I say live together, I am not saying taking animals into our households. I meant to say to let animals live as animals. No matter how much we love animals, they belong to the wild…”

        “No it is you who misunderstood me, professor. I am a guardian of the city, not an environmentalist. You don’t expect to see certain animals roaming the streets. They are too dirty, such as mice, it is right to kill them. Some are even a threat to citizens.”

        “I have research on this Mr Kwok, so let me tell you, as long as we don’t provoke them, they don’t attack us!”

        “I know what I am talking,” the officer says, “some animals such as boars are naturally a threat to people. I mean, they are muscular, they are huge beasts, capable of fighting tigers and lions. They naturally carry weapons, their fangs. If they get into the city, what will happen?”

        “Well, that brings us to the next question,” Meander says, “you see, there have always been wild animals around us, why are they going into urban areas more frequently? And, how do you view wild animals in human areas?”

        “We police do receive more and more wild animals invading human settlements. But how should I know?” exclaims Mr Kwok, “when you see a mouse in the middle of the market, are you going to ask why?”

        “That is because we invaded first,” the professor responds, “hundred of years ago, there weren't any buildings, people lived on their land and animals lived on theirs. But as urbanization happened, we developed more and more of nature, we stole the homes from them. We built buildings, which took away their habitat. We build roads, which leaves them no place to go. Is it really them who invaded us? It is us who invaded them in the first place.”

        “You say as if they are victims,” says Mr Kwok to Professor Dudgeon, “but they are not pets. They are not innocent goats or lost cutty cats. Let me remind you, some animals can be dangerous. Imagine this, a mother takes her two kids and they meet up with a huge boar with large fangs, who protect them? You talk about animal rights and claim that they were here first. But what about those innocent people? One common sense, pigs are not clean. They smell, they push over rubbish bins and they also excrete everywhere. They can be devastating to public hygiene. I am a police, I place the safety of the people in high regard. If someone or something is dangerous, that is what I shall deal with. It is not cruelty, it is security. Because if we don’t deal with them, they are a threat in all sense. Worst they can do is to attack us, and they did.”

        “Sadly they do,” Meander says, “but what shall we do when we face animals attacking humans?”

        “My top priority is always our people. In any other case, I don’t comment. but if they attack us, they are proved a vivid threat to our people. We then have the responsibility to stop them, to prevent further damage. And them attacking people is also a sign that they have gone too far. We surely need follow-ups such as restricting their living area and reducing their numbers by sterilizing them.”

        “Well despite me being an ecologist,” says Professor Dudgeon, “and I have always been searching for ways to be nice to animals, I don’t take animals attacking people lightly. This is a serious and grim subject because recently we have seen people hurt and died in it. My condolences. Animals attacking humans is the last thing we want to see. Now I am not an expert in countering animal attacks, so I may not be constructive here. But dealing with animals attacking humans is already the last resort. What we can do is prevention.”

        “How can we prevent it, professor?” The policeman asks, “these are wild beasts. If they tend to attack people, they attack people.”

        “Many, actually. We can actually integrate them into city planning. The first thing we can do is observe the animal’s actions, hence outlining their active area and know how they actually live, and set zones to prevent human settlements. If animals would inspect rubbish bins, we can deploy specially designed rubbish bins around their habitats. There is also an active way to do it rather than just tracking where they live. Animals are straightforward, they live wherever there’s food. And boars in particular feed on various fruits and nuts native to the area. One way of doing it is to plant trees they rely on and therefore constrain them in certain areas. Several countries are currently employing these ideas and see huge success in it. We also support catching and sterilising them, that’s what we do to control their numbers, but just because we can keep the necessary balance in nature.”

        “Well, that sounds like a promising solution,” Meander comments, “when humans being attacked by boars is unfortunate, I am sure that we all can do something, leave the precautions to experts and environmentalists, and security as the job of the police force. Now I am sure our audience has some opinions on the issue related. Don’t hesitate, we are ‘the People’, we mediate your voice. Message us via our CloudSound The People 2028 one word all lowercase. Back to our topic. What measures do you suggest if boars spawn in urban areas again?”

I see Martin and several crews busy with their holophones and computers. Clearly, they are selecting from audience questions.

        “If you do see a boar, remember,” Mr Kwok says, “they are a threat to our safety. Call us, the police, let us deal with it.”

        “That would be the last step,” says Professor Dudgeon, “in fact, when you encounter wild animals in urban areas, don’t have to care about them, don’t provoke them. They will go away. Things just work this way, animals don’t threaten us unless we threaten them.”

        “No offence professor,” says Mr Kwok, “when I say threat, I am not only saying they may attack people, but they might also break properties and upset hygiene. These are things I care for.”

        “Not if we have planned ahead and drawn zones to effectively separate them from us,” says Professor Dudgeon, “they are a threat also to property and hygiene is a consequence of not considering them in early city planning. On the contrary, calling the police may only worsen things. I understand it is for the safety of people. But think from their perspective. They don’t know you are the police, they only see shields and batons, they only see threats. There are actually many ways to deal with them without risking anyone.”

        “We have our first question here,” Meander announces, “now audience, sorry we don’t read out your names this time. Someone asks, ‘what is your view about police hunting animals?’”

        “I shall make it clear here,” the policeman says, “the police force has a strict guideline of countering wild animals to ensure minimum casualties. And ‘hunt’ is not the right word. We only search for boars when intel suggests that their numbers are too many and become a vivid threat. We hire professionals, trained professionals. Every act we perform is carefully considered.”

        “You are being ambiguous here officer,” comments the Professor, “and I understand. But government departments are not the only ones who can act on things. Now you say police have guidelines, I am happy to hear it. That way animal rights organizations like us have a lot less to do. I would suppose that you have integrated suggestions from experts like us. Consider our input officer, we may use a great help. So that you do your job well and we ensure minimum harm.”

        “We have our next question,” Meander reads, “‘some people are feeding wild animals on a daily basis. Comments?”

        “No!” “No!” They utter together.

        “Well finally,” says the professor, “there is one thing we both agree on.”

        “Now we the police force always get complaints of people feeding wild animals. Honestly, I am getting tired of it. Feeding wild animals can cause more of them to concentrate in one place. That always complicates things. Also feeding them means leading them to the road, which increases the risk of humans encountering animals or car accidents. We don’t want to see either one. So we hereby, on behalf of the police force, urge citizens to stop feeding the wild animals. Anyone who does so will face legal consequences.”

        “Many people may feed animals thinking they are helping them,” says the professor of biological science, “I admire the sentiment, but your kind heart will end up in bad effect. Well other than the safety concerns Kwok sir has mentioned, we don’t directly feed wild animals for a reason. The best wildlife preservation is actually to imitate how nature actually works. Animal numbers are linear to the local food supply. If food is scarce, they have fewer cubs or straight up die. That’s how nature works. Now giving food to them actually encourages the birth rate. Seriously, since we have reports indicating someone feeding boars in North Point, the herd size increased by eleven times! With a herd size this large, once food supply runs out or isn’t enough, they go into urban areas for food. Besides, that would cause them to lose their hunting ability, eventually relying on humans’ food and making things worse. Let alone the fact that human food is not suitable for them. If you truly have the determination to help them, join us, we teach you the correct ways.”

        “We have our next question,” says Meander, “do you think that animals are more good than harm to us?”

        “I am an officer,” says Mr Kwok, “I am practical. Of course animals can be put to good use. They are trustworthy tools, they are great emotional support, they are good entertainment. They are a harm if they attack. Are animals more good than harm? Depend on which animal is it. A dog, yes. Boars, no.”

        “I don’t like the phrase ‘more good than harm’,” states the professor, “as if you evaluate animals based on their values alone. You seem to forget one thing, is that we share the same planet and we humans are eventually animals too. Our ecosystem is a sophisticated yet fragile one, comprised of not one, but various food webs. Each species has its important place and any huge changes can upset the entire system. Let’s ask yourself, are you more good than harm to nature? In the end, we all die and decompose into nutrients for the land. Sadly that’s perhaps the only contribution for most people. We already do damage before becoming nutrients. We, humans, are perhaps the most gifted with intelligence. With great power comes great responsibility. If we can, in our best effort, ensure that all lives on Earth lives well , we are doing more good than harm.”

        “Well we sure want to know more,” Meander says, “but this is the end of the pro…”
        “Wait, are you going through those questions as well?” Professor Dudgeon mutters, “[Meander: Please professor, no] police shot a boar dead…comments?”

The studio is in dead silence.

        “Oh sorry, I am not supposed to read them right?”

        “Now why don’t you mention the whole story?” Mr Kwok urges, “the boar family, 12 of them, broke into a MTR station, and the huge one with sharp teeth dashed into one of our senior officers killing him.”

        “I mean no offence Kowk sir,” says the professor, “but look at your forces, the shield formation made sense but the batons and that big gun were a mistake. And clearly, there were gunshots, not stun guns but live bullets…” 

        “Then what shall we do?” asks the policeman calmly, “that boar dashed into our defense line, killed one man and left four in grief danger. Those men are still battling with death.”

        “I am really sorry for the men, I really do. But it was your initial tactic that caused tragedy. Wild animals know no defensive formation, they only know they are being targeted. That is the worst scenario when we encounter animals. Usually, we distract them and put them to sleep. Now you have killed a dozen of them. A dozen!”

        “You accuse me of my tactics, then blame me on the death of boars?”

        “[slaps table] There should have been better ways! And where is your guideline?”

        “Environmentalist has no say in law enforcement!”

        “Law enforcement has no idea about wildlife preservation!”

        “Gentlemen we do run out of time,” there is suddenly no voice but Meander’s, “for the time being, this is the end of the programme. Thank you for joining us with ‘The People’. This has been your host, Meander Lee, signing off.”

It is later Athena tells me that it was director Cheung who gave hand signals to mute the mic of the guests, then collapsed into her director’s seat letting out a long sigh “smoother than I expected”.

 

        As Mr Kwok is packing up his suitcase, the lift opens. Rushing in with fury is Zedekiah.

        “You, law dog! I am calling you!” he roars, “who do you think you are eh? What right do you have to define threat and kill what oughtn’t to be killed?”

        “Who is he?” Martin asks me.

        “No,” Mr Kwok blocks his men, “don’t stop him. Young man, they may danger people, threaten innocent people. My duty is to protect them.”

        “Oh really?” Zedekiah stands there, keeps saying, “where do the innocent people live? Don’t lie to me! I have friends living in Chai Wan and boars live well with them. Who are you protecting!”

        “People living on these mountains face boars every day. Large boars with sharp fangs,” the officer responds coldly.

        “Yes, residents living in Mid-Levels,” Zedekiah exclaims, not moving a step, “care for the rich! Very honourable sir. Sharp fangs. Are they anywhere more lethal than your weapons? You ever wonder why only police are attacked?”

There seem to be a glaring sight in Mr Kwok’s eyes, and he asks,

        “If you are so smart, tell us.”

        “When boars are here in the urban areas,” Zedekiah’s voice turns calm, “we citizens don’t view them as a threat. We just move along, doing our things. We don’t form shield walls to trap them, or arm guns to repel them. That is not us. It is always the ones in blue or black uniforms who possess danger to them. Kwok sir, who is threat now?”

It is then Athena arrives at the lift, and I gesture to her not to step in. Mr Kwok walks by him and stands in front of him,

        “When we kill a mouse in the street, everyone cheers. Now we killed a boar and you all scold us. I still don’t understand why. Let’s go. That’s fine Martin, we know the way out.”

And he moves to the lifts with his colleagues.

        “That was actually wonderful,” Athena comments, “but unwise.”

        “That feels amazing,” Zedekiah exclaims.