EditorialMore must be done to stop looting of nature in Hong Kong

Tree thieves and wildlife poachers are busy again in what appears to be a side effect of the lifting of pandemic restrictions. This is a wake-up call for the city to renew its efforts to protect the last refuge for species once found on the mainland and Southeast Asia.

Illegal loggers primarily target the globally protected Aquilaria sinensis. Its wood is prized for carvings as well a source of perfumed agarwood incense that gave rise to Hong Kong’s name – Chinese for “fragrant harbour”. It can be worth more than its weight in gold on the black market.

Loggers have been seen in recent months on Lamma and Lantau islands. An association dedicated to protecting the trees reported fewer than 10 logging cases annually during the pandemic, a tenth of the average before 2019. Smuggling to the mainland has resumed and locals may be involved.

Meanwhile, poachers are hunting critically endangered golden coin turtles and big-headed turtles. Other species such as porcupines, civet cats and pangolins are also targets.

The animals are popular as pets or for food. Lingnan University zoologist Sung Yik-hei said turtle counts at his study sites in the New Territories had fallen 90 per cent since travel restrictions were lifted in February.