Summary:
– June 16 is World Sea Turtle Day, a day to raise awareness about sea turtles and the importance of protecting their habitats.
– The green sea turtle is the only species in Hong Kong with recorded breeding.
– Green sea turtles in Hong Kong face numerous challenges, including entanglement in fishing nets and ingestion of marine debris.
– The Park collaborates with the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department to rescue and care for injured sea turtles.
– Roller, a green sea turtle rescued in October 2022, had ingested plastic and a fishing line.
World Sea Turtle Day is an annual celebration on June 16 to educate and inspire people about sea turtles and their habitats. This day allows us to learn more about the fascinating world of sea turtles and the efforts taken to protect them. In Hong Kong, one particular sea turtle species captures our attention – the green sea turtle. Let’s delve into these turtles’ unique and beautiful aspects and the challenges they face in our local waters.
Among the seven species of sea turtles found in Hong Kong, the green sea turtle stands out as the only one that has been recorded breeding here. This makes them incredibly special and deserving of our attention and protection. However, life is difficult for these majestic creatures in Hong Kong waters. They encounter various obstacles that threaten their survival daily.
One of the most significant challenges green sea turtles face in Hong Kong is the entanglement of fishing nets. These turtles often find themselves trapped in these nets, unable to free themselves. This poses a grave danger to their well-being and can lead to injuries or even death. Witnessing these beautiful creatures suffer due to human activities is heart-wrenching, but efforts are being made to minimize these incidents.
Another threat to green sea turtles in Hong Kong is the ingestion of marine debris. As they swim through our waters, these turtles often mistake plastic debris for food and consume it. This can have severe consequences for their health and well-being. Ingesting marine debris can cause blockages in their digestive systems, leading to malnutrition and even death. We must take collective action to reduce the amount of plastic waste in our oceans to protect these incredible creatures.
In addition to entanglement and ingestion of marine debris, green sea turtles in Hong Kong risk colliding with propellers. The speed and force of boat propellers can cause devastating injuries to these turtles, affecting their ability to swim and survive. Boat operators must be aware of their presence and take necessary precautions to avoid these collisions.
To address these challenges and protect the green sea turtles in Hong Kong, the Park has worked closely with the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD) to rescue and care for injured sea turtles. The dedicated team at the Park provides medical treatment and rehabilitation to these turtles, ensuring their recovery and eventual release back into the ocean. It is a heartwarming sight to see these once-injured turtles swim freely again in their natural habitat.
One remarkable story emerged in October 2022 when a fisherman in Cheung Sha, Lantau Island, discovered a weak green sea turtle named Roller. Remarkably, Roller had been released just a month prior. Upon examination, it was found that Roller had ingested plastic and fishing lines, highlighting the ongoing threat of marine debris to these creatures. Roller’s condition has been steadily improving with the diligent care of the Park’s veterinary team. However, careful monitoring is necessary to assess if the turtle’s overall health and well-being will continue to improve or remain static. Updates on Roller’s progress can be found on the Park’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
On this World Sea Turtle Day, let us celebrate the remarkable green sea turtles in Hong Kong and pledge to protect their habitats. We can ensure these beautiful creatures continue to grace our waters for generations through collective efforts. Let us inspire others to join us in this noble cause, raising awareness and fostering a sense of responsibility toward preserving our marine ecosystem. Together, we can make a difference and secure a brighter future for these extraordinary sea turtles.
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Source Description
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為咗提高大家對海龜嘅認識🐢，同明白保護海龜棲息地嘅重要性，每年嘅6月16日都被定為世界海龜日🎉！而今日就係呢個大日子啦！😎
喺七種香港本地海龜入面，綠海龜係唯一一種有繁殖記錄嘅海龜💚！但其實對佢哋嚟講，喺香港水域生存絕對唔係咁簡單🥺！綠海龜時不時會畀漁網纏住、誤食海洋垃圾或撞到螺旋槳😱。所以公園一直都有同漁農自然護理署（漁護署）合作，拯救同照顧受傷嘅綠海龜，等到綠海龜康復後，將佢哋放歸大海☺️！
2022年10月，就有漁民喺大嶼山長沙，發現一個月前先啱啱返大海嘅綠海龜 Roller！經過詳細檢查，我哋喺 Roller 嘅腸入面發現到塑膠同釣魚線😭！喺公園獸醫嘅照顧下，Roller已經慢慢好轉🥰，不過我哋都決定繼續監測佢嘅臨床症狀，睇吓最終Roller嘅整體狀態會唔會有所改善。如果想了解多啲海龜嘅動向，就記得留意住公園嘅Facebook同Instagram啦！
[ World Sea Turtle Day!
Every year on June 16, we celebrate World Sea Turtle Day to highlight the importance of saving these amazing creatures🐢 and protecting their habitat. And today is the big day!😎
In Hong Kong, green sea turtle is the only of the seven species of sea turtles that has ever recorded breeding here💚, but it’s never easy for them to survive in Hong Kong waters🥺. From time to time, green sea turtles are found entangled in fishing nets, having mistakenly ingested marine debris or struck in propellers😱. The Park has collaborated closely with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) to rescue and care for injured sea turtles. The green turtles are released back into the ocean upon recovery.☺️
In October 2022, found by a fisherman in Cheung Sha Lantau Island, a sea turtle, Roller, was rescued in a very weak state. He was released just a month ago! After some detailed check-up, some plastic and fishing line was found in Roller’s gut😭. Despite the condition continuing to improve under the treatment of our veterinary team🥰, we decided to continue monitoring the progression of his clinical signs to see if it can improve eventually or remain static. Please stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram for the updated news of Roller!
