Mass Hamster Cull Sparks Great Adoption Rush in Hong Kong
When the Hong Kong government decided to eliminate 2,000 hamsters after a Covid‑19 scare at a pet shop, the city went into a frenzy of people ready to give those fluffy rodents a new home.
Why the Culling?
On Tuesday the Health Secretary declared that the only way to be absolutely certain was to wipe out every hamster linked to the outbreak—no risk taken, no half‑measures. Staff at the Little Boss pet shop found 11 hamsters testing positive for the virus, prompting authorities to evacuate the animals, quarantine customers, and escort the cages out in hazmat suits.
Public Reaction Turns into Positivity
While the government saw a clear danger, millions of Hong Kongers saw a delightful opportunity. Within hours, anonymous groups on social media swelled as nearly 3,000 people pressed their phones, hoping to adopt unwanted pet rodents.
- Ocean (29): Administrated the “Hong Kong the Cute Hamster Group” on Telegram. She recounts that families of 3,000 desperate owners urged their youngsters to ditch hamsters even after half a year of ownership.
- Bowie (27): Volunteer turned proud owner of two new hamsters, who once owned three others before the cull. He shrugged, “It’s ridiculous—life is life, be it hamsters, rabbits, or dogs.”
SPCA Steps In
The local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals pulled together to alert pet owners that “panic and abandonment are not the answer.” They issued a rapid guide: don’t kiss, cough, or snort at your fuzzy friends; wash your hands afterwards.
When it comes to the average lifespan of a hamster, most animal welfare groups say about two years—so a careful, hygienic approach might just save the day.
Side Notes
While a video link from a local YouTube channel pops up in the original story, the key takeaway is that the community rallied fast, staying cool, caring, and a little bit quirky during an unexpected crisis.
‘Overblown’
Hamster Havoc in Hong Kong: A Whole Lot of Cuteness Gone to the Culling Rack
What the Authorities Were Doing
- Pet shops were put on notice to shut down—yes, even the ones with the fluffiest hamsters.
- Imports and sales of little rodents were suddenly frozen, like a game of “Never Have I Ever” but with hamsters.
- After December 22, 2021, any hamster owner was told to hand their furry friend over to officials for stuffing into a very un-lovely culling queue.
- And remember: don’t leave them strolling around the city, free‑wheeling on the street.
Hotline, Horror and a Little Ha‑Ha
The government even opened a hotline for people who might have questions—or who simply wanted to tell a story about their hamster. How many squabbly little pests turned up? That figure remains a mystery, as elusive as a hamster escaping a cage.
Picture‑Perfect Pandemonium on the Front Pages
The print media went into full “hamster‑freakout” mode. Every front page that day was a snapshot of folks in hazmat suits standing beside pet shops, and a comic illustration of a hamster—probably still thinking it was a snack—inside a giant spiked virus particle. Imagine that: the tiny rodent vs. the big bad virus. The pro‑Beijing Ta Kung Pao even dared to display that tiny figure in the midst of a microscopic battlefield.
Professor Vanessa Barrs on the Hamster‑Culling Debate
“Many people around the world own pets, and none of them have shown evidence of transmitting COVID‑19 to other humans.” Professor Vanessa Barrs, a companion animal health expert at City University of Hong Kong, offered a calm counter‑argument. “There is a theoretical risk, but it just doesn’t happen.”
She added that the fear at home was “overblown.” The hamster‑culling could be justified for protecting public health, but according to her, the actual danger was far less significant than the headlines suggested.
Bottom Line
In short, the authorities decided that it was better to manage the hamster situation in Wuhan style—hence the hazmat suits—while professionals like Professor Barrs tried to keep the panic at bay. The net result? A surprisingly glossy front‑page showdown between tiny rodents and global anxiety, all wrapped up in a bit of humor, emotion, and packed with the dog‑gone‑delicious charm of hamsters that nobody really had the heart to keep forever.
