Hong Kong police are pursuing four suspects believed to be linked to bags of butchered wild boar carcasses left in Tseung Kwan O on Friday night.

Police received a report at 8.59pm and observed four suspects who fled when officers arrived to carry out patrol duties. Three backpacks and a trolley containing suspected wild boar remains were left at the scene.

The carcasses were removed by officers from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The case has been classified as animal cruelty and referred to the Tseung Kwan O police for further investigation. No arrests have been made.

Photographs showed that the carcasses appeared to have been butchered into portions and separated into plastic bags.

Anyone who causes unnecessary suffering to any animal is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of HK$200,000 (US$25,700) and three years’ imprisonment, according to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance.