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THE ENVIRONMENT
Terrestrial Fauna
The physical and climatic environment of Hong Kong provides woody and grassy habitats for a wide variety of animal and plant life. Under the pressures of urbanisation, larger animal species are rarely seen, but reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects are common.
Most of Hong Kong's countryside and wildlife are protected by the Forests and Countryside Ordinance, the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance, the Country Parks Ordinance, and the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance.
One of the most important conservation sites in Hong Kong for wildlife is the Mai Po Marshes. A restricted area under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance, and managed jointly by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department and the World Wide Fund for Nature (Hong Kong), it is an internationally significant site for migratory and resident birds. 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 warblers, flycatchers, robins, bulbuls and tits.
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. Wild boar occasionally cause damage to farm crops in some remote areas.
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 coral snake 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.