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Eurasian Otters Inhabiting the Northern Wetlands

The Eurasian Otter is Hong Kong’s rarest mammals, and the wetlands of northwest New Territories are its most important habitats. Strengthening wetland conservation and advancing research are crucial to deepening our understanding of its ecology and guiding key conservation actions.

Characteristics and Behaviour

In Hong Kong, Eurasian Otters mainly inhabit wetlands around Deep Bay, where fish accounts for their major diet. Their webbed feet and tails make them highly agile swimmers, enabling them to move efficiently through the water.

Threats

Eurasian Otters in Hong Kong face multiple challenges as their habitats shrink and degrade due to urban development, pollution and various human activities. Potential threats from feral dogs further increase the pressure on this vulnerable population.

Chinese White Dolphins in the Western Waters

The Chinese White Dolphin is the star of Hong Kong’s marine mammals. It inhabits the Pearl River Estuary, including the waters from western to southwestern Hong Kong, and was adopted as a mascot at the time of Hong Kong’s handover.

Characteristics and Behaviour

Chinese White Dolphins typically measure about 2.5 to 2.7 m in length and can weigh up to 250 kg. Juveniles are grey, gradually developing a spotted grey-pink colour as they grow, while adults become paler pinkish-white. Their distinctive pink colour is linked to thermoregulation, as blood vessels near the skin surface dilate, especially when they are active, creating a more noticeable pink tone. Chinese White Dolphins are frequently observed surfacing and leaping near vessels, and they often forage around fishing boats.

Threats

Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation in the Pearl River Estuary, frequent marine construction works, vessel traffic disturbance and marine pollution pose serious threats to the dolphins’ survival. Habitat loss, underwater noise and degraded water quality all undermine the long-term viability of this important population.

Chinese Windmill in the Southern Skies

In the southern skies of Hong Kong, there exists a butterfly that is not only beautiful but also rare—the Chinese Windmill (Byasa confusus). Its presence is a striking expression of natural beauty and forms an important part of Hong Kong’s ecological diversity.

Characteristics and Behaviour

The Chinese Windmill, belonging to the Papilionidae family, is known for its distinctive black wings, prominent wing-tails, pinkish red body, and pink, crescent-shaped markings on the underside of the hind wings. This adult primarily feeds on nectar, while the larvae feed on the poisonous Aristolochia mollis, a species of birthwort plants. Therefore, both the adults and larvae of the Chinese Windmill carry the toxin, which they use as self-defence. The Chinese Windmill is mainly found on the peaks of southern Hong Kong.

Threats

Chinese Windmill is very rare in Hong Kong, with a highly restricted distribution. Its larval host plant, Aristolochia mollis, is also rare and restricted in Hong Kong. Currently, our understanding on the ecology of Chinese Windmill in Hong Kong is very limited. The reason behind the species’ restrictedness is not fully understood.

Staghorn Coral and Butterfly Fish in the Eastern Waters

The eastern waters of Hong Kong are home to rich marine biodiversity, with Staghorn Coral and Butterfly Fish among the most distinctive species. Together, they not only bring colour and vitality to the sea, but also reflect the richness of Hong Kong’s marine ecosystems.

Characteristics and Behaviour

Staghorn Coral is known for its antler-like branching structure and is more commonly found in the waters around Sai Kung. Its complex structure provides shelter and food for many marine organisms, including brightly coloured Butterfly Fish. Butterfly Fish, with their vivid colours and graceful bodies, are highly visible on coral reefs. They are often seen swimming among Staghorn Coral colonies, where they seek shelter and feed on coral polyps and small invertebrates. As a result, their distribution is closely tied to the presence of healthy coral communities.

Threats

These species face severe threats from water pollution, rising sea temperatures driven by global warming and ocean acidification, all of which contribute to coral bleaching and the decline of ecosystem functions. In addition, human activities such as illegal fishing and coastal development continue to degrade their habitats, threatening their survival and reproduction.

Bonelli's Eagle In the Eastern Skies

The Bonelli's Eagle is Hong Kong’s rarest breeding raptor, mainly found in open areas of less disturbed hills and mountains. They can be seen in the countryside of northeastern New Territories.

Characteristics and Behaviour

Bonelli's Eagle is a robust build, medium-sized bird of prey with a wingspan of up to 1.8 m. Adults have dark brown upperparts and white plumage from the chest to the belly, which gives the species its Chinese name. They primarily hunt birds and mammals and breed in barren hilly terrain with rocky outcrops.

Threats

Bonelli's Eagle is a resident bird in Hong Kong, but its breeding population has declined sharply—from an estimated 10 pairs in the 1990s to only occasional records in recent years. This decline is likely related to vegetation succession; as areas of grassy hillsides gradually shrink, suitable habitat for the species is reduced. With the future urban development in northern New Territories, its survival in Hong Kong is a cause for concern.

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