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Stay afloat1/31/2024 ![]() ![]() Where once he would have spotted 10 poaching incidents a year, six occurred in February 2023 alone. Sung monitors their nesting areas with a system of 40 surveillance cameras linked to his mobile phone. ![]() Many of the turtles here were once abundant in other parts of Asia, like Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan and mainland China, but poaching has decimated their populations to the point that some species are now counted in their hundreds and mostly only in Hong Kong. It is a rural idyll of subtropical temperatures, abundant rivers and streams, and a relative lack of human development – exactly the sort of environment in which various species of freshwater turtle thrive, Sung says. “The situation has come to a point where it cannot be worse,” he said.īeyond the postcard images of the sparkling offices and dazzling lights that have made Hong Kong famous lie the hinterlands of its New Territories just south of the border with mainland China. Now though, he and his team of university conservationists think it is a matter of “now or never.” “While we wanted to educate people about wild turtles, we were worried that a certain few people might become interested and go hunting.” “Before, we didn’t want to tell people we have turtle populations, or so-called robust potential populations,” Sung said. Publicizing the turtles’ plight now may be his last chance to save them from extinction, he believes, even if it means breaking the secrecy that has shielded them for so long. He has been monitoring the city’s turtle population for more than a decade and estimates it has fallen by 60% to 80% during that time. “Hong Kong is one of the last bastions of turtle conservation in Asia,” said Sung Yik-hei, an associate professor at Lingnan University. ![]() Experts say poaching incidents are rising dramatically as disappearing populations force poachers to cast their nets ever wider in search of a new supply. While in Hong Kong, the unlikeliness of the setting has enabled them to fly largely under poachers’ radar. Passing on Christopher Smith and Antonio Johnson may come back to bite them, but there’s no real use in being belligerent over a fourth-round pick either way.One of the world’s most densely populated cities might seem an unlikely refuge for endangered wildlife.īut behind the concrete jungle of Hong Kong, where more than 7 million people mingle in a 430 square mile area home to more skyscrapers than New York city, lies one of the last holdouts for several exotic species of turtle.Įlsewhere in Asia, experts say, these species – prized for their use in Chinese medicine and as exotic pets – have been hunted to the brink of extinction. The Vikings didn’t have a very exciting draft, but someone needs to hold down this spot. Least favorite pick: Jay Ward, DB, LSU (134th overall) Addison gives the Vikings a strong secondary wide receiver that will keep the floor of their passing game high. Justin Jefferson is already a known commodity, but Jordan Addison profiles as the perfect No. If the Vikings are still going to be a team that relies on Kirk Cousins to air it out for them, they need as many talented pass catchers as possible to make life easier for them. Favorite pick: Jordan Addison, WR, USC (23rd overall)
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