Off the rails: Monkey trouble disrupts Hong Kongβs MTR for second day in a row
MTR services on the Tsuen Wan Line were disrupted on Friday for around an hour owing to a monkey on the tracks. It is the second primate-related transit incident in as many days.
Police and staff from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department responded to reports of the monkey sighting at around 9am at Tsuen Wan station.
Normal services resumed at around 10am after the monkey was removed.
On Thursday, a similar rush-hour incident at Kowloon Bay station caused disruptions on the Kwun Tong Line. Journey times increased but train frequencies were unaffected, according to the rail operator.
Executive Chair of the Non-Profit Making Veterinary Services Society Mark Mak told iCable that wild animals would inevitably venture into urban areas for food in a city like Hong Kong, where city centres and rural areas are close to each other.
βWeβre building a city on animal habitats, how can we tell the animals, βDo you know this isnβt your home?β They wouldnβt know, so donβt be alarmed if animals appear in the city,β he was quoted as saying in Cantonese.
Trespassing on train tracks carries a penalty of up to HK$5,000, whilst entering paid areas without a ticket carries a maximum penalty HK$5,000 or three years in prison.
Additional reporting: Hans Tse.