Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
Marine experts have warned that Hong Kong must strengthen efforts to protect its pink dolphins before reclamation work begins off Lantau Island.
Researchers at the Cetacea Research Institute (CRI) found that construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge from 2010 to 2016 was likely to have “considerably compromised” the dolphins’ survival rate.
“The recent measures in waters off north-northwest Lantau are nothing short of hopeless in terms of providing the necessary food and shelter for the animals they are meant to protect,” institute director Leszek Karczmarski said.
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, also known as pink dolphins, are native to the Pearl River Delta. They are listed as a vulnerable species.
The government has four marine parks comprising nearly 4,900 hectares. These waters are meant to protect marine life and their habitats around Lantau.
Research published last month by Karczmarski and Stephen Chan Chiu Yin, co-director of Research at CRI’s division of cetacean ecology, found that soon after construction of the bridge began in 2010, the dolphins fled parts of their core habitat. In one region, the number of dolphins dropped by half.
Quiz time
1. What construction project severely harmed the dolphins’ ability to survive?
2. State the pink dolphin’s official name.
3. What is the purpose of the four marine parks around Lantau Island?
4. Does Karczmarski believe current government efforts are enough to help the pink dolphins?
5. Around what year did dolphins start leaving parts of their main habitat in Hong Kong?
Suggested answers
1. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge
2. The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin
3. The purpose of the parks is to protect marine life and their habitats.
4. Karczmarski does not believe the government is doing enough to help pink dolphins. He said the new measures are “nothing short of hopeless”.
5. Dolphins started leaving parts of their main habitat around 2010.