(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-11-07 15:48

SHANGHAI - Hungry boars in populous eastern China have invaded buildings and terrified tourists, prompting authorities to overturn a hunting ban on the animals, an official and Chinese press said Tuesday.

Wild boars at a nature park. Hungry boars in populous eastern China have invaded buildings and terrified tourists, prompting authorities to overturn a hunting ban on the animals. [Agencies]

The wild hogs have made incursions into hospital dormitories, college kitchens and scenic spots in Hangzhou, capital of China's Zhejiang Province, 200 kilometres (124 miles) from Shanghai.

According to a local report, one 200-kilogramme (440-pound) hog rushed into a security guard's dormitory at West Lake People's Hospital and jumped onto his daughter's bed.

The pig then ran out, rammed a taxi before fleeing, and was never seen again, the Shanghai Daily reported.

Another boar broke into Wansong College's kitchen on Monday, eating leftovers before escaping up the mountains, the newspaper said.

The boars' sudden boldness was probably due to the scarcity of food in the wild during the winter, the newspaper said.

Authorities decided to lift a hunting ban on the animals after tourists were scared by boars at Hangzhou's popular West lake, said Ma Jianhui, spokesman for the lake's tourism office.

"We will try to drive them away, but shooting will be allowed if necessary," he said.