A supermarket in Hong Kong was treated to a bizarre sight when three cows invaded it in search of food.

Here is the incident, as captured by Facebook user Eric Man Kit Lee, on Feb. 7.

China-based media Shanghaiist reported that the incident specifically took place in Mui Wo town on Lantau island, which is inhabited by hundreds of wild cows.

Here is the video:

[video width="640" height="1206" mp4="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2019/02/52406867_2286044241415430_6153682238467925573_n.mp4"][/video]

Cows came for the fruit

Amidst a row of trolleys, the cows settled on some fruits to fill their stomachs.

One of the cows can be spotted eating from the cold storage area, while two other cows can be seen foraging among fruits displayed on top of several stacked baskets.

While all this was happening, many human spectators appeared tickled by the scene, with one man shown filming the incident.

Incident is a reminder of the "plight" faced by wild cattle

However, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the Lantau Buffalo Association saw the incident in a far more serious light.

Ho Loy, the chairwoman of the buffalo association was quoted as stating:

"A lot of farmland has been turned into soccer fields or warehouses in recent years. The bulls simply do not have enough room to rest and not enough grass to eat."

Ho added that the pollution of Lantau's grass areas and the increase in tourists and resident had also made the wild cattle less inhibited towards humans.

Incident repeated again on Feb. 9

Shanghaiist further reported that the incident had been construed by Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD) as a one-off issue in an attempt to allay concerns. 

However, a repeat of the incident occurred once more on the night of Feb. 9, when a video was put up by Hong Kong-based media outlet Apple Daily, showing two cows attempting to enter the supermarket.

They were halted by the the supermarket's staff shuttering of the shop.

Population controlled via sterilisation

According to the AFCD, a total of 1,110 cattle and 120 buffaloes are distributed across Lantau Island, Sai Kung / Ma On Shan, central and northeast parts of the New Territories.

The AFCD added that control of the population is maintained through a “Capture-Sterilisation-Relocation” programme, where the AFCD actively captures stray cattle to be sent for surgical sterilisation before being released back into the wild.

Top image collage screenshots from Eric Man Kit Lee Facebook