As first reported by dotdotnews, Hong Kong is leveraging artificial intelligence to tackle the growing issue of wild monkeys encroaching into residential areas due to years of illegal feeding.
With urbanization shrinking natural habitats, human-animal encounters have become increasingly common and sometimes dangerous. In response, the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD) is trialing an AI-enabled CCTV system that can detect feeding behavior and instantly alert enforcement personnel.
Source: wikipedia.org.
The pilot system at Piper’s Hill parking lot, situated near Kam Shan Country Park—a known monkey habitat—has proven effective, reducing incidents and leading to several successful prosecutions. The AI system identifies potential illegal feeding by detecting prolonged proximity between people and monkeys, or specific feeding gestures. This helps authorities intervene swiftly and use recorded footage to trace offenders who flee the scene.
AFCD officer Louisa Yip highlighted that illegal feeding has altered monkey behavior significantly. Once fearful of humans, monkeys now approach and sometimes attack hikers in search of food. The change has prompted the government to amend wildlife protection laws, increase penalties, and coordinate cross-departmental enforcement. However, enforcement remains difficult due to the brief nature of many feeding incidents—an issue the AI system is beginning to resolve.
Compounding the issue is the rapid growth of the monkey population, driven by a lack of predators and human-provided food. The AFCD launched a sterilization program in 2007, successfully stabilizing the population at around 2,000. Still, monkeys frequently enter urban areas like Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan, causing around 200 to 300 nuisance cases annually. The department continues to study global best practices to enhance long-term management strategies.
Hong Kong’s adoption of AI-powered surveillance marks a critical step in balancing urban development with wildlife conservation. By curbing illegal feeding and restoring wild animals’ natural behaviors, the initiative reflects a growing trend of using technology to solve complex environmental and public safety challenges.
