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WWF AND EPSON RELEASE LATEST RESEARCH FINDINGS
ON CHINESE WHITE DOLPHIN --- NEW DOLPHIN AMBASSADOR HELPS PROMOTE
GREATER AWARENESS
Research findings from recent
surveys of the Pearl River Estuary indicate that Hong Kong
and Guangdong waters share the same population of Chinese
white dolphin. Report recommendations include the continuation
of Estuary-wide surveys so that both seasonal and annual
details of distribution and habitat use can be mapped. Such
information is essential for the establishment of a conservation
strategy that encompasses the entire dolphin population.
Epson Foundation sponsored the WWF Hong Kong Pearl River
Estuary Dolphin Research Programme 2003-2004 in collaboration
with the Guangdong Provincial Authorities. |
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Group
Photo: (from left) Dr Lindsay Porter, WWF Hong Kong Dolphin
Conservation Officer, Mr. Willie Wong, Deputy General Secretary
of Epson Foundation, Ms Charlie Young, WWF Hong Kong Dolphin
Ambassador and Ms Cindy Cheng, Fundraising & Marketing
Director, WWF Hong Kong. |
 "We
are extremely grateful for the continued support of Epson Foundation
of our dolphin conservation programme. Epson has supported WWF
Hong Kong marine conservation initiatives since 2000, and their
commitment to the dolphin conservation programme provides funding
for dolphin research in the Pearl River Estuary and education
initiatives. We are also very excited to have Miss Charlie Young
as our new Dolphin Ambassador. Her support will raise the public
profile of WWF Hong Kong's dolphin conservation initiatives," said
Ms Cindy Cheng, Fundraising and Marketing Director, WWF Hong
Kong.
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"I'm very
happy to be associated with the Chinese white dolphins as
I always find the Chinese white dolphins very charming and
beautiful animals in Hong Kong. With an estimated number
of 180 dolphins in Hong Kong waters, we definitely need more
public support to ensure their continued survival. I hope
my involvement with the Chinese white dolphin will further
increase public knowledge of this species and thereby, solicit
more support for the long-term protection of this population,"
said Miss Charlie Young, WWF Hong Kong Dolphin Ambassador. |
Miss Charlie Young, WWF Hong
Kong Dolphin Ambassador, introduces WWF Hong Kong's New Dolphin
Ambassador Programme. She also shares her experience at dolphin
boat trip.
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In 2003 - 2004, WWF Hong Kong in collaboration
with the Guangdong Authorities collated historical data on the
distribution of Chinese white dolphin throughout the Pearl River
Estuary and initiated a series of systematic surveys throughout
the Estuary. The primary objectives of the project were to establish
the range of the dolphin population throughout the Estuary and
to compile a photographic catalogue of individual dolphins, for
comparison to the existing WWF Hong Kong dolphin catalogue.
| "To date,
the newly initiated Pearl River Estuary photographic catalogue
comprises 62 individuals, and more data is being added as
survey work and collaboration continues. It will be several
years before it can be said with certainty that every dolphin
in the estuary has been photographed. The majority of dolphin
sightings have occurred in Hong Kong waters and from those
waters and islands adjacent to the Hong Kong-Guangdong maritime
border", explained Dr Lindsay Porter, WWF Hong Kong Dolphin
Conservation Officer and head of the dolphin research team. |
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Dr
Lindsay Porter, WWF Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Officer
and head of dolphin research, introduces the latest Chinese
white dolphin Pearl River Delta survey findings at the
press conference. |
Mr. Willie Wong, Deputy General Secretary
of Epson Foundation, gives a speech at the press conference.
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"
Epson Foundation is pleased to be the title sponsor of the
Dolphin Programme for the forth year and since from 2000.
With the vision of Co-existence with Nature, we actively
participate in various environmental protection projects
in Hong Kong and being a responsible corporation in Hong
Kong, we are pleased to provide long-term support to dolphin
conservation and education initiatives to ensure better
protection of the species for future generations," said
Mr Willie Wong, Deputy General Secretary of Epson Foundation. |
The new Epson "Our Dolphin" Programme was
also launched at the press conference. The programme will include
a dedicated Dolphin Education Officer to provide talks to primary
schools. There will also be a new Student Dolphin Ambassador
Programme which will allow school children to enroll as Student
Dolphin Ambassadors and enter a dolphin drawing competition.
Each Student Dolphin Ambassador will receive an Ambassador Badge
and a dolphin information booklet. The role of the Student Dolphin
Ambassador is to help spread the dolphin conservation message
to their friends and family. It is hoped that such a dedicated
programme will provide primary school students with a better
understanding of marine conservation issues and perhaps, inspire
young students to embark on careers as conservationists or dolphin
biologists.
The Epson Chinese white dolphin website,
launched last year, will continue to provide general and updated
information of the species to participants of the Epson "Our
Dolphin" Programme. This Programme costs HK$320 to join and further
information can be obtained from 2526 1011 or from our website www.wwf.org.hk.
WWF Hong Kong began a dolphin conservation
programme in the early 1990s when initial findings indicated
that the local dolphin population was threatened by the increasing
degradation of Hong Kong's marine habitat.
Special thanks to YMCA OF Hong Kong for
providing free venue of the press conference.
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