Press Releases

AFCD releases 80 baby Green Turtles
Saturday, September 15, 2001

A total of 80 baby Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) were released by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) at their birthplace in Sham Wan, Lamma Island, on September 12 (Wednesday) to conserve this highly endangered species.

AFCD Wetland and Fauna Conservation Officer Mr Simon Chan Kin-fung said, "These artificially incubated baby turtles were hatched three weeks ago. This is the third time that artificial incubation has been successfully carried out by AFCD for conservation of Green Turtles. We carried out two other incubations in 1998 and 2000. So far, more than 180 baby turtles were hatched.

"On Tuen Ng Festival (June 25) this year, AFCD nature wardens found a nest of Green Turtle eggs during their regular patrol in Sham Wan. We originally intended to let the eggs incubate in the nest naturally. However, heavy rain in the following two weeks raised our concern about the safety of the eggs.

"Under continuous heavy rain, the nest would be water-logged and the eggs suffocated. Therefore, we decided to collect the eggs for artificial incubation," Mr Chan said.

The eggs were put in an incubator filled with sand collected from their birthplace and kept at 28 to 30 degrees Celsius. After two months of incubation, 85 of the 121 eggs collected hatched out baby turtles, giving a hatching rate of over 70 per cent.

"The new-born turtles were about 23 grams in weight and five centimetres in carapace length. Eighty baby turtles were released back to the sea and AFCD keeps the remaining five for conservation education.

"When releasing the baby turtles, they were allowed to crawl across the beach to the sea in order to promote natural imprinting of their birthplace. They were released by early evening when the sand temperature was relatively lower and there were fewer predators so as to increase their chance of survival", said Mr Chan.

Green Turtle is one of the three species of sea turtles found in Hong Kong waters and so far has been the only species known to breed locally. At present, Sham Wan is the only known existing nesting site of Green Turtles in Hong Kong. It is a Restricted Area prohibiting unauthorised entry during the breeding season of Green Turtles from June to October.

A video film showing the artificial incubation and release of Green Turtles by AFCD has been uploaded on its website (www.afcd.gov.hk/) for public viewing.