Terrestrial Mammals: Hong Kong has over 50 species of terrestrial mammals. Red Muntjacs are heard and seen in wooded areas from time to time. Leopard Cats, Small Indian Civets and East Asian Porcupines are occasionally found at night in the New Territories, while Masked Palm Civets are often found on Hong Kong Island. There are Eurasian Wild Pigs in the countryside areas, occasionally causing damage to crops.
Unlike others, Rhesus Macaques are easily seen in Kam Shan and Shing Mun Country Parks. Visitors are reminded not to feed these wild animals as uncontrolled feeding has led to unnatural growth of the monkey population and caused nuisances. A feeding ban has been implemented and enforced in the area since July 1999 to help the monkeys revert back to forage natural food in the natural environment.
Smaller mammals such as Pallas's Squirrels, Chestnut Spiny Rats and Musk Shrews are commonly encountered in rural areas while certain bats like Himalayan Leaf-nosed Bats, Pomona Leaf-nosed Bats and Chinese Horseshoe Bats can be found in caves and water tunnels.
Birds: Hong Kong is a major stopover point of Asia's migration routes for birds. The wide varieties of local habitats including wetlands, grasslands, woodlands, seashores and farmlands contribute to the diversity of the birds. There are 520 species of wild birds including residents, winter visitors, passage migrants, summer visitors, occasional visitors and vagrants recorded in Hong Kong, Twenty-six of them are globally threatened species. About 100 species have been recorded breeding in the territory.
The Mai Po Marshes are listed as a Restricted Area under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance and access is restricted to permit holders. This area of mudflat, mangrove and gei wais is the richest habitat for migratory birds. About 390 species of birds, including a number of endangered species (e.g. Black-faced Spoonbill, Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Saunders's Gull), have been recorded in the area. The Marshes form part of the 1 500 hectares Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site which was listed in 1995 as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. This area is also a participant of the 'East Asian-Australasian Flyway Site Network' for enhancing international communication and cooperation.
Amphibians and Reptiles: Hong Kong has over 100 species of amphibians and reptiles. Among them, snake is the largest group, with 52 species. The largest snake is the locally protected Burmese Python, whose body length could reach up to 6m. On the other hand, the smallest member — Common Blind Snake — is only 15cm in length. There are 21 species of lizards, including the endemic Bogadek's Burrowing Lizard, which can only be found on a few outlying islands. There are 10 native species of chelonians found in Hong Kong, among which the Green Turtle is of particular conservation interest in that it is the only species of sea turtles breeding locally. The nesting site of Green Turtles at Sham Wan of Lamma Island was designated a Restricted Area in 1999 to minimise human disturbance and protect the species during the breeding season.
Hong Kong has a total of 24 species of amphibians. Three of them, Hong Kong Cascade Frog, Hong Kong Newt and Romer's Tree Frog, have been listed as protected wild animals under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance. A site that supports one of the largest populations of the Romer's Tree Frog — part of Ngong Ping on Lantau Island, has also been designated as a SSSI in May 1999 to protect the habitat of the species.
Insects: Hong Kong has a rich insect fauna. There are 236 species of butterflies, including the beautiful Swallowtails. With wing span up to 30 centimetres, the Atlas Moth is outstanding for its large size among the numnerous species of moths found in Hong Kong. The Indian Moon Moth is eye-catching for the long tails on its hindwings. With 117 species recorded, there is also a great diversity of dragonfly fauna in Hong Kong. Some of the species are endemic to Hong Kong and even new to science.
Aquatic Animal: The marine fauna of Hong Kong is exceedingly diverse. Though primarily tropical, it is an admixture of tropical South China Sea and temperate Chinese forms because of the seasonal fluctuations of warm and cold water and monsoon weather conditions.
Of an estimated 1 800 species of fish on the South China continental shelf, clupeoids, croakers and sea breams are the dominant groups in Hong Kong waters. Farther offshore, golden thread, big-eyes and others are also of high value to fishermen.
Marine invertebrates are also abundant — ranging from corals, molluscs to crustaceans. There are 84 species of stony corals in Hong Kong. The richest coral communities prevail to the east of Hong Kong where the waters are both sheltered and free from the influence of Pearl River.
Marine mammals, Chinese White Dolphin and Finless Porpoise, are resident species and can be found yearround. All cetaceans are protected in Hong Kong under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance.
There are over 180 species of freshwater fish recorded of which about 70 primary freshwater species spend their entire lives in freshwater. Of the primary freshwater fish, cyprinids are dominant. Two other major groups of freshwater fish are brackish species and marine vagrants, each with about 50 species recorded in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Wetland Park: The Hong Kong Wetland Park aims to promote conservation, education and ecotourism. The 61-hectare park is comprised of a 10 000-square meter visitor centre with interactive galleries showcasing functions and values of wetlands and an outdoor wetland reserve with a wide range of habitats, including freshwater marshes, mangroves, woodlands, shrublands, reedbeds and mudflats, for demonstrating the diversity of Hong Kong's wetland ecosystem. With spectacular displays in a delightful natural setting, the park offers a rewarding experience for visitors to discover the wonderful world of wetlands.
The park also serves as a hub of conservation education for organising numerous activities for the general public, schools, and tourists, ranging from themed guided tours, workshops and lectures to volunteer programmes. Visitors can reach the park by taking the Light Rail at Tin Shui Wai West Rail Station. The standard admission fee to the Park is HK$30. Concessionary tickets, including those for students, seniors (aged 65 or above) and people with disabilities are also offered at HK$15.
| Published by the Information Services Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government GovHK Website: http://www.gov.hk Information contained in this publication may be freely used. No acknowledgement is necessary. |
Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department Home Page address: http://www.afcd.gov.hk |
January 2014 |
