I went dolphin watching on Friday not far from Hong Kong in the South China Sea and saw perhaps 30 pink dolphins. That's right they were really pink - as pink as a pig!
When they came up for a breath and jumped out of the water it wasn't for long and I didn't manage to get any good photographs but this is what they looked like:
Photo scanned (with permission) from a Hong Kong Dolphinwatch Ltd. postcard, visit http://www.hkdolphinwatch.com.
On Friday the water didn't look so blue. It was a murky green and our guide told us full of pollution from the Pearl River. I didn't have any equipment for testing water quality, but the air quality was poor. This trawler emerged like a ghost ship from the smog-haze hanging over us at 11am in the morning:
The pink dolphins belong to the species Sousa chinensis also known as Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins with a range extending throughout south east Asia and also northern Australia. Through most of its range the species is the more usual grey colour.
These Hong Kong dolphins are born grey, but mature to the pretty pink colour. Here's a picture of a mother with its greyish baby:
Photo scanned (with permission) from a Hong Kong Dolphinwatch Ltd. postcard, visit http://www.hkdolphinwatch.com.
The dolphins suckle their young for about 3 years.
Our guide suggested there were about 1,000 of these pink dolphins off Hong Kong when they were last surveyed in 1997. She indicated that there had been no survey since but that she feared numbers were declining her biggest concern water pollution from mainland China.
The dolphins first became a conservation issue with the construction of the new airport and associated dynamiting and land reclamation at Chek Lap Kok. According to Hong Kong Dolphinwatch Ltd the next big project is a proposed 42 kilometre mega bridge linking Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai.
I can't image the bridge and associated traffic will do anything but exacerbate the already poor air quality.
Photo scanned (with permission) from a Hong Kong Dolphinwatch Ltd. postcard, visit http://www.hkdolphinwatch.com.
Thanks to Hong Kong Dolphinwatch Ltd for a great day out.
Nice post Amanda,
China's human and animal rights record is atrocious...and continuing!!!
Your statement regarding donations is so true.
I have seen many animal rights activists groups online asking for donations to "help" the endangered pink dolphins.
As much as I support there efforts, there is only the chinese government who can ensure the ongoing protection of these beautiful creatures,
Cleaning up the filth and ensuring there environment maintains a suitable and healthy eco system for there future survival is there only chance.
As many nations in the world, have learned from there mistakes, have seen the rapid extinction of so many wild species, and are working hard to ensure the wild animals of the world are protected, there are those including China, Japan, korea etc, who importance of our wildlife pale, when there eyes see only the money trail leading to the wildlife...so sad!
i am wrighting a paper on them
this is rally good pics \
r they pink pr white
This past weekend my husband and I, we're living in Hong Kong, went to see the beautiful "Pink Dolphins". Sitting in the boat with the water lapping at it's sides and watching these truly marvelous creatures perform their dances, jumps and viewing their graceful bodies as they glide through the water left my heart a little heavy thinking about their future. Once we entered the boat and traveled a short way off shore we had to travel through a good half to a whole mile of very dense garbage, plastic, cardboard, paper and anything else that would float, before we approached the viewing area. It seems as though the water in that area is the local dumping grounds.
All the donations in the world won't change this situation until the Chinese government steps in and makes the local people responsible. I know they have a million projects but this project (saving the pink dolphins) won't be around unless it's taken care of soon.
Watching these beautiful creatures is a MUST for the "HUMAN SOUL". Thanks
where are pink dolphins found i need to no all the places they are found fro this assignment im doing for school