HONG KONG — While many hope the Year of the Ox will herald times of plenty, a herd of wild cows in Hong Kong is going hungry after visitors to their habitat surged during the coronavirus pandemic.
The animals have made their home for generations alongside a few dozen fishing families on Grass Island, one of Hong Kong’s far-flung islets.
Named for its verdant meadows, the island is closer to mainland China than Hong Kong’s skyscraper-studded harborfront and is reached by a long bus and ferry ride.
Until the coronavirus struck last year, a largely manageable number of hikers and campers made their way to the island.
But with overseas travel no longer possible for most Hong Ko…
Keep on reading: Hiking surge leaves wild cows starving on Hong Kong island