https://www.scmp.com/rss/325298/feed Articles and features on conservation, including environment, habitat loss, farming, pollution, green living, sustainability and how to follow an eco-friendly lifestyle. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Reuters Reuters Britain’s David Attenborough, who has for decades been the world’s most ⁠authoritative voice on the natural world and whose documentaries have been watched by hundreds of millions, celebrates his 100th birthday on May 8, 2026. After more than 70 years of filmmaking, Attenborough’s instantly recognisable voice is synonymous with the story of nature. He is still at the vanguard of efforts to protect the environment and has produced some of his most impactful work in recent years. Attenborough... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352621/david-attenborough-turns-100-star-naturalists-unequalled-impact-over-70-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352621/david-attenborough-turns-100-star-naturalists-unequalled-impact-over-70-years?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 04:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s natural beauty, one of its greatest assets, is also ecologically vulnerable. Reminders of that abounded during the mainland’s Labour Day “golden week” holiday. At Sharp Island, where thousands flocked to the city’s Unesco global geopark, the authorities issued about 300 verbal warnings. At Ham Tin Wan in Sai Kung East Country Park, the sheer number of visitors camping, some using hotpots, underscored the problem. On Saturday evening, an estimated 500 tents at the campsite included... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352372/hong-kong-needs-better-protect-its-natural-assets-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352372/hong-kong-needs-better-protect-its-natural-assets-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A bird watcher saw people landing on an uninhabited island in southern Hong Kong waters known to be a regular breeding site for terns during mainland China’s Labour Day “golden week” holiday, according to a green group. Terns mainly feed on small fish and aerial insects. While about 40 species exist globally, 12 have been recorded in Hong Kong. Three species breed on Hong Kong’s outlying rocky islands during the summer, with one near Po Toi Island. On the second day of the holiday, a bird... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3352388/green-group-warns-disturbance-uninhabited-island-known-breeding-seabird?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3352388/green-group-warns-disturbance-uninhabited-island-known-breeding-seabird?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 12:06:01 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones In India, cuddly and colourful animals are paraded across Instagram, Facebook and YouTube channels, where free advice is shared on how to raise a lemur – or what to feed an iguana – in congested megacities far from forest habitats. Cuteness has become a commodity in Asia’s social media world, with Thailand’s main airport emerging as a reluctant hub for wild animal smuggling. On Wednesday, a 19-year-old passenger bound for Taipei tried to evade security at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport with... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3352169/how-thailand-transit-hub-feeds-indias-exotic-pet-craze-its-organised-crime?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3352169/how-thailand-transit-hub-feeds-indias-exotic-pet-craze-its-organised-crime?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Kitty Tam,Charlie Yip Kitty Tam,Charlie Yip For decades, Hong Kong’s tourism success rested on a clear formula: shopping, dining and urban experiences. That model is losing momentum. Overnight visitor spending has fallen from around HK$193 billion (US$24.6 billion) in 2015 to HK$128 billion last year. Shopping has declined sharply as spending shifts to sightseeing and experiences. Travellers are no longer coming only to consume – they seek a connection to nature, culture and place. This transition presents a clear opportunity. Hong Kong’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351840/its-not-ecotourism-if-it-risks-damaging-hong-kongs-natural-assets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351840/its-not-ecotourism-if-it-risks-damaging-hong-kongs-natural-assets?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A rescue team on Saturday released from a barge in the North Sea a humpback whale that had been stranded in shallow waters near Germany since March, witnesses said. Nicknamed “Timmy” by German media, the whale was spotted swimming near Germany’s Baltic Sea coast on March 3, far from its natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean. The mammal’s health deteriorated as it became repeatedly stranded in shallow waters near the coastal city of Wismar, and unsuccessful efforts to coax it towards deeper seas... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352242/humpback-whale-timmy-released-north-sea-after-weeks-stranded-germany?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352242/humpback-whale-timmy-released-north-sea-after-weeks-stranded-germany?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 16:23:05 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele A viral video of three elephants sent from Malaysia to a zoo in Japan has sparked public anger after online users said the animals appeared distressed when visitors called their names in Malay – which many viewers interpreted as a sign of homesickness. The footage showed the three pachyderms – Dara, Amoi and Kelat – responding to the Malaysian visitors, while another widely shared clip led social media users to claim one of the elephants appeared to be “weeping”. Other clips and images... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3352142/trumpet-call-malaysians-demand-japan-return-elephants-after-viral-weeping-videos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3352142/trumpet-call-malaysians-demand-japan-return-elephants-after-viral-weeping-videos?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 08:13:23 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong authorities will cordon off parts of the shoreline of Sharp Island in Sai Kung to protect corals, with 1,000 visitors expected in the area each day during the coming Labour Day “golden week” holiday. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department also said on Monday that 11 officers would patrol the island daily during the holiday, while five marine staff – two snorkellers and three kayakers – would monitor the sea for any disruptive visitor behaviour. The department said it... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351614/hong-kong-block-parts-sharp-island-shoreline-protect-corals-over-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351614/hong-kong-block-parts-sharp-island-shoreline-protect-corals-over-break?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:00:15 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao Just weeks before US President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Beijing next month, China is sending two giant pandas to Atlanta in what observers describe as a “goodwill gesture” amid persistent tensions that range from trade to broader security issues. The China Wildlife Conservation Association said on Friday that male panda Ping Ping and female Fu Shuang would travel to the US under a 10-year conservation agreement signed with Zoo Atlanta last year. Chinese state media, including the Global... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351294/lead-trumps-beijing-visit-china-announces-2-pandas-are-headed-us-zoo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351294/lead-trumps-beijing-visit-china-announces-2-pandas-are-headed-us-zoo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:12:48 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The sad saga of a humpback whale stranded a month ago on the German coast has sparked a flood of compassion but also a media frenzy, angry disputes, conspiracy theories and death threats. As Germans have followed the travails of the sea mammal, dubbed “Timmy” by a newspaper, on their live news tickers, television screens and influencers’ social media channels, some worry about what its epic struggle says about a nation’s collective psyche. Sociologist Christian Stegbauer said the whale, a highly... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351215/beached-whale-grips-and-divides-germany-free-timmy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351215/beached-whale-grips-and-divides-germany-free-timmy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:00:39 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones The jailing of two Vietnamese men who brokered a sale of 900kg (2,000lbs) of pangolin scales from Africa destined for the Chinese market has returned the spotlight to the illicit trade in an animal that has been poached to the edge of extinction. Prized for its meat and scales, the pangolin has almost disappeared from forests and their hilly habitats of Africa and Asia. Conservationists estimate around 1 million have been trafficked over the last decade, triggered by demand for traditional... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3351159/conservationists-hail-jailing-vietnamese-pangolin-scale-smugglers-900kg-haul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3351159/conservationists-hail-jailing-vietnamese-pangolin-scale-smugglers-900kg-haul?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:45:00 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong’s ombudsman has urged the government to empower conservation officers to enter people’s homes to investigate suspected animal cruelty cases, describing existing procedures as “ineffective” with less than 1 per cent of reported cases resulting in prosecutions. A report released on Thursday on the Office of the Ombudsman’s latest direct investigation operation also called for strengthening penalties against illegal animal traps, describing current fines as “no deterrence” against the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350359/give-officials-more-power-probe-suspected-animal-cruelty-cases-watchdog?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350359/give-officials-more-power-probe-suspected-animal-cruelty-cases-watchdog?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:22:15 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung In January, the American-born artist Nissa Kauppila was accepted into the Hong Kong Artists Association, a professional organisation founded in 2014 to promote traditional Chinese culture, becoming the first non-ethnic-Chinese practitioner admitted into its midst. The association chairman, Lam Tianxing, an ink painter, has high praise for the 43-year-old Lantau Island resident. “When I first saw her work, I was particularly impressed,” he says. “She possesses exquisite painting skills while... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3349828/hong-kong-artists-associations-first-non-chinese-inductee-leaving-legacy-beauty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3349828/hong-kong-artists-associations-first-non-chinese-inductee-leaving-legacy-beauty?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 03:15:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s authorities are finally getting serious about enforcement against reckless behaviour threatening our precious countryside. While there is no shortage of laws for protection in this respect, our natural assets are left at the mercy of visitors with little awareness of wildlife conservation or respect for the environment. The 18 enforcement actions taken at Sai Kung East Country Park over the first four days of the Easter break may appear too little, too late, but they signal a turning... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349359/site-patrols-good-start-better-protection-hong-kongs-countryside?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349359/site-patrols-good-start-better-protection-hong-kongs-countryside?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Fiona Sun,Theodora Yu Fiona Sun,Theodora Yu Shortly before the evening rush hour recently, chaos erupted at Hong Kong’s Wu Kai Sha MTR station when a wild boar stormed through the concourse. The animal, about 1.2 metres long and weighing around 40kg, knocked down an elderly man. The charging boar left a trail of blood on the station floor, injuring three other residents in a frenzied dash towards a nearby bus terminus and housing estates. “I saw it rampaging at the bus terminus while residents followed, snapping photos,” a woman working... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348718/it-time-call-end-hong-kongs-boar-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348718/it-time-call-end-hong-kongs-boar-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:30:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A woman was bitten by a wolf in a shopping centre in the German city of Hamburg, the city’s deputy mayor said Tuesday, in the first such attack in modern times. The wolf entered the complex in the northern city’s Altona area on Monday evening after being repeatedly spotted in different parts of Hamburg over several days, Katharina Fegebank told journalists. The incident is the first of its kind since the species began returning to Germany almost 30 years ago, according to the Federal Agency for... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3348542/wolf-bites-woman-german-city-shopping-area?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3348542/wolf-bites-woman-german-city-shopping-area?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:39:27 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Singapore has seized over 830kg (1,800 lbs) of Asian pangolin scales hidden in a shipment bound for Cambodia, authorities said on Saturday, calling it the largest haul of its kind discovered in the city state. Falsely declared as “dried fish skin”, the scales – estimated to be from more than 2,200 pangolins – were found in 30 bags on December 29 after officials intercepted an inbound truck carrying sea cargo, Singapore’s National Parks Board said in a statement. The announcement came as... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348253/singapore-seizes-record-asian-pangolin-scales-disguised-dried-fish-skin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348253/singapore-seizes-record-asian-pangolin-scales-disguised-dried-fish-skin?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:59:47 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words WWF’s Earth Hour marks 20 years since its Sydney inception and 18 in Hong Kong. What began as a symbolic lights-off event has grown into one of the world’s largest environmental movements. As we prepare to switch off on March 28, the message must evolve from symbolism to urgent... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347936/earth-hour-hong-kong-should-resolve-switch-lasting-change?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347936/earth-hour-hong-kong-should-resolve-switch-lasting-change?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Xianji Wen Xianji Wen For decades, parts of Hong Kong’s border like the Frontier Closed Area have been shrouded in mystery, their natural landscapes preserved as much by policy as by their remote geography. Recent plans to relax restrictions – including discussions around the Mai Po closed area – and the establishment of the Robin’s Nest Country Park signal a new era of accessibility. Having co-managed the Mai Po nature reserve for decades, the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong (WWF) views this shift with both... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346778/hong-kongs-border-tourism-push-must-not-put-mai-po-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346778/hong-kongs-border-tourism-push-must-not-put-mai-po-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Emily Hung,Theodora Yu Emily Hung,Theodora Yu After decades at the front lines campaigning for environmental protection, The Green Earth founder Edwin Lau Che-feng is slowing down to focus on his health and hobbies. The 68-year-old has been one of the most vocal environmentalists championing a waste-charging scheme for more than two decades. Lau still remembers May 27, 2024, when the government abruptly paused the waste-charging bill, as if it were yesterday. The suspension was the biggest blow in his 36-year career. “It feels impossible.... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347420/veteran-activist-warns-shrinking-space-green-advocacy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347420/veteran-activist-warns-shrinking-space-green-advocacy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:00:20 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong may introduce pilot schemes for booking campsites before the National Day holiday in October, as authorities revealed that 32 people were prosecuted for offences in Sai Kung’s country parks over the Chinese New Year holiday. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan told the Legislative Council on Wednesday that most of those prosecuted were non-locals charged with littering. Authorities had earlier said they were considering implementing a booking system and charging fees for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347018/hong-kong-test-new-campsite-booking-system-amid-overcrowding-litter-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347018/hong-kong-test-new-campsite-booking-system-amid-overcrowding-litter-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:54:53 +0000 Cat Nelson Cat Nelson In the early 1980s, coral carpeted the seabed under the Tolo Harbour in northeastern Hong Kong. Coverage reached as high as 70 to 80 per cent in some areas, comparable to what scientists now see in the city’s marine parks. Within a few years, almost all of it was gone. “Not a lot of people actually know about this,” says Dr Apple Chui Pui-yi, assistant professor in the School of Life Sciences at Chinese University. As nearby towns such as Sha Tin and Tai Po developed, pollution and sewage... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3346172/hong-kong-scientist-trying-revive-citys-coral-reefs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3346172/hong-kong-scientist-trying-revive-citys-coral-reefs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Kitty Tam,Calvin Au Kitty Tam,Calvin Au When people picture Hong Kong, they often imagine a relentless concrete jungle – a vertical city where glass and steel dominate the skyline. Yet a quiet revolution is beginning to reshape how our city develops. Last week, the Civil Engineering and Development Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department jointly launched the Hong Kong Nature-based Solutions Design Guidelines. This landmark document signals a shift in how we think about infrastructure and urban planning. It... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li A protected Hong Kong wetland on southern Lantau Island has recorded a high concentration of petroleum following an oil spill in September, with levels up to 40 times higher than those in unaffected areas, according to an environmental group’s study. Greenpeace in Hong Kong said the high concentration could threaten local ecology. It urged authorities to investigate the oil spill and include unprotected sites with high ecological value in the priority conservation projects under the Biodiversity... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346007/hong-kong-wetland-records-40-times-more-petroleum-after-oil-spill-greenpeace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346007/hong-kong-wetland-records-40-times-more-petroleum-after-oil-spill-greenpeace?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:30:18 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A massive avalanche of garbage at Indonesia’s largest landfill site killed at least five people and left several others missing after heavy overnight rain triggered a rubbish dump collapse, officials said Monday. More than 300 search-and-rescue personnel, using heavy machinery and sniffer dogs, were deployed to the sprawling dump site late on Sunday at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Treatment Facility in Bekasi, a city just outside the capital of Jakarta. Rescuers worked cautiously amid... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345979/5-die-indonesia-rubbish-mound-collapses-largest-landfill-several-missing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345979/5-die-indonesia-rubbish-mound-collapses-largest-landfill-several-missing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:23:25 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A wild boar bit a hiker in Hong Kong before it fell down a flight of stairs and died, according to police. A police spokesman said the victim, 57, had arrived at a public toilet at Boon Kin Village in Tseung Kwan O on Friday morning while hiking with her husband, also 57, and a friend, when the boar suddenly emerged and chased her. Shocked, the woman fell, hitting her head – resulting in swelling on her forehead – and scratching her limbs, police said. Some witnesses reportedly said nearby... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345776/wild-boar-bites-hiker-tumbles-its-death-down-flight-stairs-village?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345776/wild-boar-bites-hiker-tumbles-its-death-down-flight-stairs-village?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:55:57 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong’s Ocean Park will transform its North Pole Encounter zone into a marine mammal conservation centre featuring the skeleton of a whale that washed ashore in Sai Kung in 2023. The new exhibit, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2027, will highlight the park’s marine mammal research and rescue efforts. Visitors can explore other exhibits and animals, such as seals and sea lions, at Pacific Pier, an attraction in the Marine World section, the theme park said. The new centre will... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345348/hong-kongs-ocean-park-open-new-conservation-centre-featuring-whale-skeleton?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345348/hong-kongs-ocean-park-open-new-conservation-centre-featuring-whale-skeleton?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:28:11 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A government lawyer has said that an environmental study on the impact of building 12,000 public flats on part of Hong Kong’s oldest golf course holds “no legal effect”, as authorities appeal a court ruling that may send the project back to the consultation stage. The Court of Appeal began hearing oral arguments on Tuesday over an environmental impact assessment report for the public housing project on 9.5 of 32 hectares (23.5 acres) that the government reclaimed from the 172-hectare golf course... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345312/hong-kong-government-says-golf-course-flats-study-has-no-legal-effect-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345312/hong-kong-government-says-golf-course-flats-study-has-no-legal-effect-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:13:15 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The warming El Nino weather phenomenon could form later this year, potentially pushing global temperatures to record heights. There is a 50-60 per cent chance of El Nino developing during the July-September period and beyond, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The World Meteorological Organization will issue an update on El Nino on Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know about El Nino and its cooler sister, La Nina. Why the name? El Nino and La Nina are two... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3345180/el-nino-may-return-2026-making-planet-even-hotter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3345180/el-nino-may-return-2026-making-planet-even-hotter?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:43:31 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Excitement about an influx of tourists during the recent Chinese New Year “golden week” was tarnished by the sight of some rural Hong Kong beaches being turned into congested tent cities. It is good that the authorities are considering fees and other solutions to counter holiday rushes. The problem was obvious on beaches in Sai Kung, where more than 900 tents were pitched along Ham Tin Wan. At nearby Sai Wan, nearly half of the campers had illegally pitched shelters outside designated... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344859/hong-kong-wants-ecotourism-not-overtourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344859/hong-kong-wants-ecotourism-not-overtourism?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones The deaths of 72 captive tigers at a private park popular with tourists in northern Thailand have renewed scrutiny of a lucrative industry that campaigners warn treats wild animals as “entertainment”. The outbreak at Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai began in early February, with authorities initially attributing the deaths to canine distemper – a virus carried by dogs but often fatal to big cats. A deeper investigation is under way, with some medical experts suspecting contaminated food may have been... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3344470/why-did-72-tigers-die-thailand-tourist-park-under-2-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3344470/why-did-72-tigers-die-thailand-tourist-park-under-2-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:58:22 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen A green group has called for long-term measures to tackle overtourism in Hong Kong’s scenic Sai Kung district after the number of tents at a campsite reached more than nine times its capacity on the second day of Lunar New Year, although authorities described the situation as “under control”. Greenpeace said on Thursday that it had counted 585 tents at the Ham Tin Wan and Sai Wan campsites the previous day, far exceeding the designated capacity of 50 at each location. Ham Tin Wan had 450 tents... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344030/green-group-calls-action-after-hong-kong-campsites-packed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344030/green-group-calls-action-after-hong-kong-campsites-packed?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:25:52 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Visitors have started filling campsites along the seashore in Sai Kung near Hong Kong’s famed MacLehose Trail for the Lunar New Year break, with officers patrolling to monitor and prevent littering following previous complaints. At Sai Wan Beach, a picturesque spot popular with tourists on mainland Chinese social media, around two dozen visitors were seen camping and swimming on Monday. Among the campers were Jiang Li, 24, and Wu Handeng, 23, from Guangdong province, who had pitched their yellow... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3343765/few-signs-littering-hong-kong-campsites-fill-lunar-new-year-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3343765/few-signs-littering-hong-kong-campsites-fill-lunar-new-year-break?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:35:59 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Thailand has begun using a birth control vaccine on elephants in the wild to try and curb a growing problem where human and animal populations encroach on each other – an issue in areas where farms spread into forests and elephants are squeezed out of their natural habitat. The initiative is part of efforts to address confrontations that can turn deadly. As farmers cut down forests to make more farmland, elephants are forced to venture out of their shrinking habitats in search of food. Last... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343552/thailand-launches-wild-elephant-birth-control-stop-deadly-farm-raids?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343552/thailand-launches-wild-elephant-birth-control-stop-deadly-farm-raids?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 01:53:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The recent incident that saw a routine pond-cleaning operation go horribly wrong and kill more than 110 fish at a public housing estate in Tseung Kwan O was more than a misadventure. To many animal lovers and rights activists, it amounts to a tragic case of unlawful killing that highlights the troubling gaps in respect for living beings in our advanced society. The sorry episode came to light after images of dozens of colourful koi and other species lying dead on a wet brick pavement at King Lam... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341812/hong-kong-should-see-animal-protection-shared-civic-duty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341812/hong-kong-should-see-animal-protection-shared-civic-duty?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words On New Year’s Eve, Hong Kong released its updated Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP), outlining the city’s conservation directions for the next decade. Two foundational priorities stand out: amending conservation policies and protecting endangered wildlife. These are not... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3341343/time-update-hong-kongs-wildlife-protection-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3341343/time-update-hong-kongs-wildlife-protection-law?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 03:30:10 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Bali’s elephant-riding attractions have begun shutting down after Indonesia’s forestry authorities ordered conservation centres to end the practice, as local officials threaten to revoke the relevant permits for non-compliance. The directive calls for the centres to stop elephant-riding “performances” and shift towards wildlife tourism that is more educational and ethical, according to a circular by the Ministry of Forestry’s Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3341419/elephant-rides-indonesias-bali-attractions-banned-over-animal-welfare-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3341419/elephant-rides-indonesias-bali-attractions-banned-over-animal-welfare-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:49:37 +0000 Reuters Reuters After a brief countdown by conservationists, a young Indo-Pacific leopard shark glided into the blue waters off Maiton Island in southern Thailand, released in the country’s first efforts to “rewild” the endangered species. Once a familiar sight for snorkellers and divers, the spotted sharks have sharply declined in the wild over the past decade due to overfishing and habitat loss, even as they flourished in private aquariums. “Why not take the breeding population that is doing well in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341200/thailand-releases-first-aquarium-bred-leopard-sharks-rewild-endangered-species?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341200/thailand-releases-first-aquarium-bred-leopard-sharks-rewild-endangered-species?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 03:04:16 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A team of scientists announced on Tuesday that they had developed new deep-sea landers specifically to test their contentious discovery that metallic rocks at the bottom of the ocean were producing “dark oxygen”. If a previously unknown source of oxygen has always been lurking in Earth’s depths, it would represent a remarkable revelation that would call into question long-held assumptions about the origins of life on our planet. But the deep-sea mining industry – which is keen to extract... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3340616/scientists-plan-deep-sea-expedition-probe-dark-oxygen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3340616/scientists-plan-deep-sea-expedition-probe-dark-oxygen?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 20:49:57 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou China has proposed to host the secretariat of a new treaty governing the high seas, in what observers say is the latest effort by Beijing to proactively play a bigger role in shaping international rules of order. Days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to pull the US from 66 international organisations, including United Nations commissions and major bodies set up to tackle climate change, China has bid for Xiamen in Fujian province – a coastal hub that sits on the Taiwan... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340455/china-bids-secretariat-high-seas-treaty-contrast-us-exit-un-bodies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340455/china-bids-secretariat-high-seas-treaty-contrast-us-exit-un-bodies?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:21:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The global trade in shark fin has been more strictly regulated in recent years, an essential step in the battle to save endangered species from extinction. However, this has not prevented the highly lucrative illegal trade from flourishing. Despite some eye-catching seizures, Hong Kong remains a major hub. A comprehensive study published in Science Advances highlighted the alarming level of shark fin from protected species reaching the city’s markets. The research was led by Mote Marine... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340008/study-shows-hong-kong-must-do-better-end-illegal-shark-fin-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340008/study-shows-hong-kong-must-do-better-end-illegal-shark-fin-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:45:07 +0000 James Borton James Borton On January 17, a quiet revolution will take place across around two-thirds of the world’s oceans. A landmark United Nations agreement known as the High Seas Treaty will formally enter into force, creating the first legally binding global framework to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. For the first time, activities beyond national jurisdictions – from industrial fishing to deep-sea mining and bio-prospecting – will be subject to environmental impact assessments, marine... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3339604/high-seas-treaty-chance-china-lead-marine-conservation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3339604/high-seas-treaty-chance-china-lead-marine-conservation?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Animal welfare groups have criticised a Hong Kong pet shop for offering a cat rental service, calling the move unethical and harmful to the felines’ well-being. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said on Wednesday that it had sent staff to inspect the shop in North Point and reminded its operator to comply with the law. In a social media post – which appears to have been since removed – the Petbook pet shop advertised a “cat friend rental” service. It offered people... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339892/animal-welfare-groups-slam-hong-kong-pet-shop-offering-cat-rental-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339892/animal-welfare-groups-slam-hong-kong-pet-shop-offering-cat-rental-service?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:44:42 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The recent discovery of two new coral species in waters close to urban Hong Kong was a welcome surprise. The hopeful sign of resilience and richness of the city’s biodiversity should drive efforts to better protect the fragile assets from development and tourism. Researchers from Baptist University revealed on January 5 that they had identified the new soft corals, species that were previously unknown worldwide, in an area about 5 km (3 miles) southeast of Hong Kong Island’s Shek O Beach. One of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3339707/hong-kongs-biodiversity-strategy-must-be-clear-and-comprehensive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3339707/hong-kongs-biodiversity-strategy-must-be-clear-and-comprehensive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Illegal dog trapping and cat smuggling have become alarmingly common, with an animal rescue group reporting that it saved 351 animals in Hong Kong over the past six months – an average of two per day. As Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter, now in its 10th year, released a report on Tuesday detailing the condition of the animals it had saved over the past six months, its founder – who led most of the operations – told the Post how brutal recent cases had become. Founder Kent Luk Ka-chit said that in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338969/hong-kong-shelter-saves-351-animals-6-months-trapping-smuggling-cases-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338969/hong-kong-shelter-saves-351-animals-6-months-trapping-smuggling-cases-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:30:18 +0000 Oscar Liu,Lo Hoi-ying Oscar Liu,Lo Hoi-ying An extensive study of 16,000 shark fin samples taken from Hong Kong retail markets has found that 6.5 per cent of them were from globally protected species, surpassing the figure officially declared by local authorities under an international agreement. The study, published in Science Advances on Monday, also revealed a disparity: the volume of critically endangered oceanic whitetip shark fins sold in the city was 70 times higher than what officials reported under the Convention on International... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338765/65-shark-fins-sold-hong-kong-are-protected-much-higher-reported-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338765/65-shark-fins-sold-hong-kong-are-protected-much-higher-reported-study?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 08:31:20 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Willa Wu Elizabeth Cheung,Willa Wu Concern groups have called for a more concrete timeline and clearer details in an updated action plan for Hong Kong’s biodiversity strategy, which for the first time lists assessing the capacity of ecotourism hotspots as a priority. The government on Wednesday unveiled its updated Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which covers four strategic areas – nature conservation, deepening mainstreaming, capacity building and collaborative partnering. It lists 30 priority actions and 81... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338339/groups-welcome-updated-hong-kong-biodiversity-plan-call-more-details?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338339/groups-welcome-updated-hong-kong-biodiversity-plan-call-more-details?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 01:30:17 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The French government on Tuesday postponed a ban on plastic throwaway cups by four years to 2030 because of difficulties finding alternatives. The ban was meant to start on January 1, but the ministry for ecological transition said that results from a recent review into the “technical feasibility of eliminating plastic from cups” justified pushing back the deadline. It said in an official decree that a new review would be carried out in 2028 of “progress made in replacing single-use plastic... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3338197/france-pushes-back-plastic-cup-ban-four-years-amid-industry-pressure-and-green-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3338197/france-pushes-back-plastic-cup-ban-four-years-amid-industry-pressure-and-green-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:00:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse An elusive wild cat long feared extinct in Thailand has been rediscovered three decades after the last recorded sighting, conservation authorities and an NGO said on Friday. Flat-headed cats are among the world’s rarest and most threatened wild felines. Their range is limited to Southeast Asia and they are endangered because of dwindling habitat. The domestic cat-sized feline with its distinctive round and close-set eyes was last spotted in a documented sighting in Thailand in 1995. But an... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3337829/thailand-rediscovers-extinct-flat-headed-cat-after-30-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3337829/thailand-rediscovers-extinct-flat-headed-cat-after-30-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:08:48 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele As climate change fuels more frequent floods and storms across Southeast Asia, forests and wildlife are being pushed to their breaking point, with conservationists and scientists warning of a worsening impact on ecosystems due to a lack of oversight and countermeasures. In late November, cyclone-driven rains battered Indonesia’s Sumatra island, triggering floods and landslides that killed more than 1,000 people, left hundreds missing and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes, according... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3337344/southeast-asian-floods-set-threaten-more-wildlife-due-climate-change?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3337344/southeast-asian-floods-set-threaten-more-wildlife-due-climate-change?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:00:12 +0000