Reward grows to HK$150,000 in Lantau cow case

A reward being offered to catch the culprit behind the hit and run that killed eight Lantau cows last week now stands at HK$150,000, after an anonymous donor added HK$50,000 to the pot.

The donor, who asked not to be identified, came forward with the offer of the cash after seeing film footage online and photographs of the dead and dying animals at the scene.

Lantau Buffalo Association chairwoman Ho Loy said yesterday that the donor, a Hong Kong Island resident, was very touched by the incident. "He came to visit the site and he had strong feelings about the animals ... He wanted to support us and to encourage people, an informant, to come forward," said Ho, whose association put up the original HK$100,000 reward.

"I have many members of the public calling me and sharing their concerns but we have nothing really, no information … yet."

Eight feral cattle were killed in the hit and run at Tong Fuk Village at around 3.30am last Wednesday. One of the animals was a two-week-old calf, which was alive but had to be put down later after being taken away for treatment by veterinary surgeons.

Ho said the mother of the calf had survived and was returning daily to the scene of the crash. "It is very sad. The last time she saw the calf, it was alive. She doesn't know it has died and is still coming back to look for it every day."