One of Hong Kong's remaining mega-fauna: The Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin (印度太平洋駝背豚 [Pronunciation: Yun Doe Tai Ping Yeung Tor Bui Tuen]), Scientific name: Sousa chinesis, also known as the Chinese White Dolphin (中華白海豚 [Pronunciation: Jung Wah Bak Hoi Tuen]).
The current rate of development is unprecedented, with China, Hong Kong and Macau all wanting to further urbanize their regions at the expense of the natural environment; many scientists agree that the marine ecosystem is in great peril.The current developmental proposals and infrastructure projects that are facing Hong Kong's cetacean habitats alone include a third airport runway in which 650 hectares of land will be reclaimed, a massive waste incinerator next to the near-pristine Shek Kwu Chau Island, the HK-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge construction that is already underway, the HK-Shenzhen Airport Railway, and the ten proposed reclamation sites by the Hong Kong government in an effort to combat increasing human population. How much more pollution, anthropogenic threats and environmental pressures can these pink dolphins, our heavily fragmented ecosystem, and our lungs/ bodies take? Biodiversity is essential to an ecosystem's health, resilience and is also beneficial for social and economic reasons, thus there is an urgent need to conserve species for the environment itself, as well as for our future generations.
Don't be the bystander; take action whenever and wherever possible. Write letters to legislators, participate in environmental open forum events, consume less seafood and meat products, adopt a simple lifestyle with a minimal use of plastic or non-degradable materials. Re-use and recycle, or better yet, adopt a zero-waste strategy at home. Do your part and educate others, they need all the help and voice they can get if they are to survive in this relentless, anthropocentric world.
Bag the habit and
Please also take the time to view "On the trail of the Chinese White Dolphin" photo blog by photographer Peter Yuen who came on board with us on one of our HKDCS dolphin day trips. Many thanks to Peter for dedicating his time, effort, skills and writing a blog post to inspire others to help our dolphins!
http://www.peteryuenphotography.com/Blog/Hong-Kong-Dolphin-Conservation/21688720_CR9BrF
and the following link for more flipper bubbles and splashing photos!
http://www.peteryuenphotography.com/Animals/Pink-Dolphins/21686543_XBGwG6#!i=1730029092&k=Xnh7nvz
All print proceeds from his Hong Kong Pink Dolphins gallery page will go to HKDCS! They make beautiful and thoughtful gifts for any season! :) Enjoy!
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