HONG KONG: Ten red-eared terrapins were found stabbed with pencils in a pond at a Hong Kong public hospital on Thursday – six had died and four were severely injured.
Local police launched an animal cruelty investigation after the turtles were found in an outdoor pond on the second floor of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan.
As of 5pm on Thursday, the four survivors, still with pencils in them, were receiving treatment at the Wan Chai centre of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The case came to light when a staff member at the hospital off Lok Man Road made a report to police at about 11.30am.
Nine of the turtles, also known as red-eared sliders, were found with pencils still in them, and some had multiple ones protruding from their bodies, according to a society spokeswoman.
She said six of the 10 had died and the four others were alive but severely injured.
“People should respect animal life even if you are not fond of animals,” the spokeswoman said. “Humans and animals should be able to coexist harmoniously in the community.”
Detectives from the Eastern police district were handling the case. No one had been arrested as of Thursday evening.
On Sept 20, a turtle was found dead in a plastic bag at the same pond along with an injured terrapin.
Police were on Thursday investigating whether the two cases were linked and poring over security camera footage to gather evidence.
According to Hong Kong’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, any person who cruelly ill-treats, tortures, terrifies or causes any unnecessary suffering to an animal faces a maximum penalty of three years in jail and a HK$200,000 fine.
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