Hong Kong police have launched an investigation into animal cruelty after more than 100 fish, including large koi, died while a pond was being cleaned at a public housing estate in Tseung Kwan O.
The incident occurred on Monday morning when a cleaning contractor removed the fish to facilitate maintenance, but allegedly failed to provide a temporary space with adequate aeration, according to the animal rights group Hong Kong Pigeon and Dove Rescue.
“Someone has called for help. A cleaning company came to wash the fish pond and simply scooped all the fish out and set them aside … Since 1pm [on Monday], the death toll has been rising continuously because there are no air pumps,” the group wrote in a Facebook post.
The force on Tuesday said it received a report at 8.01pm on Monday from a passer-by who discovered dozens of fish kept in three separate crates outside a pond near King Min House at King Lam Estate.
Initially classified as a request for police assistance, the case was subsequently reclassified as cruelty to animals. A probe is underway by the Tseung Kwan O district criminal investigation team, although no arrests had been made as of Tuesday morning.
The aftermath of the mass die-off was captured in a widely circulated photograph showing dozens of dead fish, including large orange-and-white koi, laid out in neat rows across the wet brick pavement.
