Response to "Sea Turtles Roar Back: WCS reports highest reported nest counts in Nicaragua" ( 2015/03/03 )
| Recently in Nicaragua, Wildlife Conservation Society had successfully restored the population of Hawksbill turtles, a critically endangered species listed on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 19961. The Hawksbill Conservation Project established in 2000, accomplished a reduction in poaching rate by 80% under the cooperation with the local communities while restored their population by 200 percent throughout the 14 years’ time (From 154 to 468) 2. Similar situation happened here in Hong Kong’s only remaining known nesting site for green sea turtles – Sham Wan, Lamma Island. Green turtles were listed endangered since 19963. However, during world war periods, sea turtle eggs were a food source for the villagers4. Thus few hatchlings survived and even less (1 in 1000 chance) reached mating age. Hardly any nestings were reported since 20055. Instead of just sit and wait for the turtles to come back, we should take a more proactive approach. The Baroque on Lamma is looking into creating an eco-destination in Southern Lamma, relying on a conservation team by then to execute and manage the green turtle conservation project. We wish to restore green turtles’ population and promote green turtles as an icon for Hong Kong’s eco-tourism. Hopefully after thirty years’ time, green turtles population will rise again and become the shining animal star of Hong Kong. References 1. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - Hawksbill turtles 2. Sea Turtles Roar Back: WCS reports highest reported nest counts in Nicaragua 3. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - Green sea turtles 4. Hong Kong struggling to save sea turtles 5. Green Turtle, WWF-Hong Kong Photo Source: By User:(WT-shared) Legis (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
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