THE ENVIRONMENT
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Agriculture and Fisheries Department and the World Wide Fund for Nature (Hong Kong), it is an internationally significant site for migratory and resident birdlife. Its 380 hectares of mudflats, shrimp ponds and dwarf mangroves provide a rich habitat, particularly for ducks and waders. More than 250 species of birds have been observed in this area, and at least 110 of them are rarely seen elsewhere in the territory. Yim Tso Ha, also a restricted area, is the largest egretry in Hong Kong. Five species the Chinese Pond Heron, Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret and Great Egret - nest there regularly, and occasionally the rare Swinhoe's egret can be seen. Hundreds of egrets can be found there during the nesting season between April and September. Egretries are also found at Mai Po Village, A Chau, Jim Uk, Tsim Bei Tsui, Lok Ma Chau, Ho Pui Tsuen and Tai Po Market.
Although traditional fung shui woods near old villages and temples are increasingly affected by development, they continue to provide an important habitat for many birds. Sightings in wooded areas include an assortment of warblers, flycatchers and robins.
Areas around the Kowloon reservoirs are inhabited by monkeys descended from animals which had been released or had escaped from captivity. There are breeding groups of both long-tailed macaques, rhesus monkeys and their hybrids. Smaller mammals are common, with the woodland shrew, house shrew and bats prevalent in some rural areas. The Chinese porcupine, with its strikingly-coloured black and white quills, is still present in parts of the New Territories and Hong Kong Island.
Occasional reports are still received of sightings of less common species such as the leopard cat, civet cat, ferret badger, pangolin and barking deer. However, the increasing obtrusion of human activity into the countryside means an uncertain future for these species. Wild boar in some remote areas occasionally cause damage to farm crops.
Snakes, lizards and frogs are plentiful in Hong Kong. There are also various species of terrapins and turtles. Most of the local snakes are not poisonous, and death from snakebite is rare. The poisonous land snakes are: the banded krait, with black and yellow bands; the many-banded krait, with black and white bands; Macclelland's coral snake, which is coral red with narrow, black transverse bars; the Chinese cobra and the hamadryad or king cobra, both of which are hooded; the rare mountain pit viper; the red-necked keelback with a red patch on the neck; and the white-lipped pit viper or bamboo snake. The bamboo snake is bright green and less venomous than others, but it is not easily seen and strikes readily if approached. The king cobra, kraits and corals prey almost exclusively on other snakes.
Several species of sea snakes, all of which are venomous, are to be found in Hong Kong waters. However, they have never been known to attack bathers.
Two amphibians of special interest are the Hong Kong newt and Romer's tree frog, which have not been recorded elsewhere.
There are more than 200 recorded species and forms of colourful butterflies, some of which, as caterpillars, cause considerable damage to farm crops. These include the two commonly-found species of cabbage whites, the swallowtails, and the beautiful but less common small blue. Among the many local moths are the giant silkworm moths, including the cynthia, fawn, atlas and moon. The atlas has an average wing span of 23 centimetres and the moon, 18 centimetres.
Two local plant bugs are especially noted for their colour and shape. They are the rare, spotted tea bug, which has been recorded only on hilltops; and the lantern fly, which has delicately coloured wings and a remarkably long forehead. Dragonflies and damselflies are