Rodent trip: hamster hitches ride on bus to Sha Tin

A hamster was caught hitching a ride on a bus from Central to Sha Tin on Sunday morning, ending up in the custody of a Hong Kong animal welfare group.The golden brown Syrian hamster was spotted by a passenger and is now being looked after by the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).Photos and videos circulating online show the tiny passenger tucked into a corner on the KMB bus, seemingly overwhelmed by its surroundings.It was later placed in a translucent plastic bag tied to a yellow handrail beside the bus driver’s seat, right next to a sign warning that anyone “impeding a bus captain wilfully may commit an offence”.As the bus entered the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, the little rodent was seen clawing frantically at the plastic bag, which swung from side to side, in a bid for freedom.The hamster was caught and placed in a plastic bag beside the driver. Photo: HandoutThe social media user who spotted and rescued the hamster said he found it on a KMB route 182 bus, travelling between the Central piers and Sha Tin’s Yu Chui Court, at around 10am.