Google – AFP, 6 May 2013
 |
Pink
dolphins playing in the waters off Lantau in Hong Kong, in a photo by
the Hong
Kong Dolphin Conservation Society (Hong Kong Dolphin
Conservation Society/AFP)
|
HONG KONG —
Conservationists warned Monday that Hong Kong may lose its rare Chinese white
dolphins, also known as pink dolphins for their unique colour, unless it takes
urgent action against pollution and other threats.
Their
numbers in Hong Kong waters have fallen from an estimated 158 in 2003 to just
78 in 2011, with a further decline expected when figures for 2012 are released
next month, said the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society.
"It is
up to the government and every Hong Kong citizen to stand up for dolphins. We
risk losing them unless we all take action," said society chairman Samuel
Hung.
Two weeks
ago a tour guide from Hong Kong Dolphinwatch spotted a group of pink dolphins
helping a grieving mother support the body of her dead calf above the water in
an attempt to revive it.
The scene,
captured on video and widely shared on Facebook, has raised fresh concerns
about the dwindling population in a city where dolphin watching is a tourist
attraction.
"We're
99 percent certain the calf died from toxins in the mother's milk, accumulated
from polluted seawater," said Hong Kong Dolphinwatch spokeswoman Janet
Walker, who added it was the third such incident reported in April alone.
Fewer than
2,500 of the mammals survive in the Pearl River Delta, the body of water
between Macau and Hong Kong, with the majority found in Chinese waters and the
rest in Hong Kong.
Experts say
their number has dropped significantly in the past few years due to
overfishing, an increase in marine traffic, water pollution, habitat loss and
coastal development.
Hung said
proposals to build a third runway on reclaimed land at the Hong Kong
international airport would place further strain on the dolphins' habitat.
Campaigning
against such developments and lobbying boat companies to divert traffic away
from dolphin-inhabited areas are some of the ways people can support the
mammals, he said.
The Chinese
white dolphins, a population of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin species, are
listed as "near-threatened" by the International Union for
Conservation of Nature.
The pink
dolphin was the official mascot at the handover ceremony when the former
British colony was returned to Chinese rule in 1997
Related Articles:
Video of grieving pink dolphin mother underscores plight of disappearing species
The Celestial White Beings via Natalie Glasson: White Whales and the White Elephants
The Celestial White Beings via Natalie Glasson: White Whales and the White Elephants
“.. Animals in the wild will instinctively know not to overpopulate and those that are carnivorous will turn to the plant kingdom for sustenance. The albinos being born in several animal species have both spiritual and transitional significance. You associate white with peace, and these rarities that are appearing are symbolic of the coming changes in animal nature that will end the predator-prey food chain and restore the peaceable relationship that once existed among all species, including humankind. The instances of unlikely cross-species friendships and even nurturing of the young from one species by mothers of another are more indications of Earth’s return to her original paradise self. Still, an extremely important factor in this is the inspiration in many souls to be advocates for the animal kingdom and alleviate their manmade plight. …”
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.