The findings were released on Monday in the ‘The state of Hong Kong biodiversity’ report by WWF-Hong Kong, in association with the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong and local researchers.
The assessments covered mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, butterflies, dragonflies and freshwater crustaceans. Of the 886 species researchers checked, 232 were deemed to be on the brink of local extinction while 21 were confirmed to be extinct.
Examples of species under threat include the Oriental magpie which is at high risk of disappearing locally, and the crested bunting which has lost its breeding population here. The Chinese floating frog, meanwhile, is already gone from the SAR.
“With nearly half of the native freshwater fish species at risk of local extinction, threats such as channelisation and water pollution, and the invasion of non-native species must be tackled,” said Dr Alphonse Tsang, Research Assistant Professor at Lingnan University.
The report is accompanied by the ‘Hong Kong Terrestrial Biodiversity Hotspot Map 2025’ which highlights what are described as 27 critical biodiversity sites outside the protected-area system.
Nearly 80 percent of the hotspots are said to have suffered from eco-vandalism, while almost half are threatened by development.
The report includes more than two dozen recommendations for the authorities, including the establishment of special task forces to combat poaching and a review of plans to build on ecologically important habits.
“We are going to share this report to all the relevant government bureaus and departments, and we would request to have a kind of sit-down and share our thoughts with the relevant departments,” said Dr Bosco Chan, director of conservation at WWF-Hong Kong.
