In a move that is sure to please animal lovers around the world, Hong Kong announced this week that it will end its year-long ban on the import of hamsters as the city continues to ease COVID-19 restrictions.
The rascally rodents were banned from importation into Hong Kong last January and thousands culled after officials traced an outbreak of COVID-19 to a worker at a pet shop in Causeway Bay. Eleven hamsters in the shop tested positive to the virus, with the subsequent cull described by authorities as a “preventative measure”.
While the decision to destroy more than 2,000 of the cuddly critters did not sit well at the time – thousands of locals signed a petition against the move – Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) this week confirmed the import ban would be lifted in mid-January with hamsters once again set to scamper their way into Hong Kong hearts.
However, a recent easing of mandatory COVID-19 testing for international arrivals into Hong Kong won’t yet apply to our furry friends.
In a statement, the AFCD said, “Our staff will arrange to collect samples from hamsters and other small mammals for COVID-19 testing. They can only be sold if the test results are negative.”
