University Student Sponsorship Programme 2018-19

This was the 15th year of USSP and OPCFHK sponsored a total of 35 students from seven different universities. They have headed to five Asian countries including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam to support frontline conservation work and research. The animal species they have supported included Bali starling, Irrawaddy dolphins, Yangtze finless porpoise, dugong and other cetaceans, Boulenger’s spiny frog, giant panda, Vietnamese giant land snail, snow leopard, green turtle and much more, spreading the spirits of conservation through their journeys and conservation projects.

We celebrated the 15th year of the programme by organizing the 15th-Anniversary Celebration cum Alumni Party on Ocean Park Conservation Day.  Over the weekend, we had also invited alumni ecology professionals to “Explore Nature with Local Experts” with park visitors.

  • “Mysterious amphibians and reptiles”
    by Dr. SUNG, Yik Hei, Research Assistant Professor, the University of Hong Kong
  • “World of corals underwater”
    by Dr. Apple CHUI, Pui Yi, Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • “Wild birds that roam the sky”
    by Mr. Bond SHUM, Founding Member, Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong

The Conservation Project Workshop was held in March 2019. Professor Kevin Tam from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was invited to introduce the concepts of conservation psychology, and Mr. Oliver Cartwright of Wildstars.tv was invited to share about storytelling with videos. We hope that these activities would facilitate the planning of student projects.

This year we also organised field trips to Long Valley and Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve for the students to learn more about Hong Kong’s biodiversity.

The Graduation Ceremony was held on September 21, 2020 (Saturday). Students shared with others their exciting conservation journey and their most unforgettable experience from their trip.
 
Media Interviews:
 
PAN Wing Sum Pearl, LAI Sheung Yee Meow
City University of Hong Kong
 
Animal Species: Bali starling  
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Date: December 30, 2018 to January 13, 2019
Principal Investigator: Ms Carolyn KENWRICK, Begawan Foundation 
Research Focus: Local community collaboration for the successful conservation of the Bali starling   
 
Students' Work:
  • Bird monitoring and recording the behaviour of the released birds and their frequency of being spotted by local residents
  • Mapping of the Breeding and Release Centre and the nearby area
  • Video-making for how to conduct bird monitoring
  • Assist in various community work: survey and education

Journey record: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / Conservation Project Promotion 1 / Conservation Project Promotion 2 / Conservation Project

 

 

TAM Sze Hon Nicholas, NG Sze On Aaron
The University of Hong Kong

Animal Species: Bali starling
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Date: June 10 to 24, 2019
Principal Investigator: Ms Carolyn KENWRICK, Begawan Foundation
Research Focus: Local community collaboration for the successful conservation of the Bali starling

Students' Work:

  • Habitat, competitor and threat assessment for the released Bali starlings
  • Mapping of the surrounding habitats near the Breeding and Release Centre
  • Video-making for the result of habitat assessment

Journey record: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / Conservation Project Promotion 1 / Conservation Project Promotion 2 / Conservation Project

 

 

 

TANG Pui Yi Victoria, WANG Si Jia Charlotte
The Education University of Hong Kong

Animal Species: Multiple species of cetaceans (Irrawaddy dolphin, Chinese white dolphin, Indo-pacific finless porpoise, Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin)
Location: Penang, Malaysia
Date: June 16 to 30, 2019
Principal Investigator: Dr Leela RAJAMANI, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Research Focus: Ecological studies on cetaceans with a focus on the Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) around Penang island

Students' Work:

  • Population survey of cetaceans
  • interviews with local communities

Journey record: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

 

 

 
CHENG Lok Yiu Rachel, CHAN Ying Tung Shadow
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Animal Species:  Multiple species of cetaceans 
Location:  Luzon and Visayas Island, The Philippines 
Date: May 19 to June 1, 2019
Principal Investigator: Dr. Marie OBUSAN, Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI) 
Research Focus: Cetacean Health and Stranding Response Program: a One Health Initiative in the Philippines

Students' Work:
  • Population survey of cetaceans
  • Sample processing of stranded cetaceans

Journey record: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

 

 

LAI Yat Yi Iris, KONG Ka Wing Christy, FUNG Yan Lok Louis
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

CHONG Hoi Dik Heidi
Hong Kong Baptist University 

Animal Species: Dugong 
Location: Palawan, Philippines 
Date: May 24 to June 6, 2019
Principal Investigator: Mr. Reynante RAMILO, Community Centred Conservation (C3)  
Research Focus: Community-Driven Monitoring and Conservation of Palawan's Threatened Dugongs 

Students' Work:

  • Land-based survey for dugong
  • Monitoring of dugong eco-tourism
  • Monitoring of feeding tracks of dugongs and seagrass bed
  • Assist local community education work to raise awareness on dugong conservation

Journey record: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / Conservation Project Promotion / Conservation Project

 

 

LEUNG Tung Ying Natural, TSE Sheung Yee Sherry
The University of Hong Kong

HUANG Wai Tim Abby, AU Tsz Kin Eric
Hong Kong Baptist University

Animal Species: Boulenger's spiny frog 
Location: Sichuan, China 
Date: June 13 to 26, 2019
Principal Investigator: Prof. HU Junhua, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences 
Research Focus: Impact of climate change on the habitat connectivity and morphological traits of Rana boulengeri 

Students' Work:

  • Population survey of Boulenger's spiny frog at night
  • interviews with local communities

Journey record: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / Conservation Project Promotion 1 / Conservation Project Promotion 2 / 

 

 

FUNG Hei Lam Heidi, LEUNG Ho Yin Alexander
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Animal Species: Giant panda 
Location: China
Date: May 16 to 23, 2019
Principal Investigator: Dr. LI Binbin, Duke Kunshan University
Research Focus: Study on sustainable grazing and management policy of giant panda's habitat 

Students' Work:

  • Survey of grazing communities and animals in giant panda habitat
  • Infrared-triggered camera trap set up to investigate wildlife inhabited in the area

Journey record: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

CHEUNG Tsz Man David, CHU Kin Kwan Kason
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Animal Species: Vietnamese giant land snail
Location: Vietnam
Date: December 23, 2018 to January 13, 2019
Principal Investigator: Prof Duc Huy HOANG, University of Science, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City
Research Focus: Population, habitats and conservation of the critical endangered Vietnamese giant land snail (Bertia cambojiensis): Research and local capacity building

Students' Work:

  • Population survey of Vietnamese giant land snail and collection of environmental parameters
  • Collection slime sample from Vietnamese giant snail for DNA analysis

Journey record: 1 / 2 (Video) / 3 / 4 / 5 

 

 

FONG Tsz Ting Leroy 
Hong Kong Baptist University 
 
MA Kwan Po Michael, WONG Ka Yee Kitty 
The University of Hong Kong
 
WONG Long Ching Elvis
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
 
Animal Species: Snow leopard
Location: Qinghai, China
Date: May 18 to June 2, 2019
Principal Investigator: Dr. CHENG Chen, Peking University Centre for Nature and Society
Research Focus: Identification of key protection area for snow leopards in Sanjiangyuan under climate change
 
Students' Work:
  • Population survey of mammals with infrared-triggered camera
  • Interviews with local communities
  • Bird survey and vegetation converage survey

Journey record: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / Conservation Project Promotion 

 

 

LIU Lok Yee Adelaide , WONG Tsz Ching Twinky
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Animal Species: Green turtle
Location: Sabah, Malaysia 
Date: January 1 to 13, 2019
Principal Investigator: Dr. Nicolas PILCHER, Marine Research Foundation
Research Focus: Understanding impacts of climate change on at-sea populations of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Malaysia and the Philippines

Students' Work:
  • Population survey of green turtles
  • Collect body parameters and determination of sex of the sea turtles to investigate the effect caused by climate change to green turtles

Journey record: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 

 

 

KAM Cheuk Yung Coco, CHAN Ka Man Anson, YU Hiu Yan Yanny
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Animal Species: Yangtze giant softshell turtle
Location: Vietnam
Date: June 2 to 17, 2019
Principal Investigator: Mr. Timonthy McCORMACK, Asia Turtle Program of Indo-Myanmar Conservation
Research Focus: Confirmation of additional individuals of Rafetus swinhoei in the wild and sexing the Dong Mo Turtle in Vietna

Students' Work:

  • Assist on the population survey of Yangtze giant softshell turtle - confirmation of additional individuals and determination of sex
  • Building of floating platform for infrared-triggered camera setup
  • Husbandry of turtles in Turtle Conservation Centre

Journey record: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

 

 

KO Cheuk Kei Jackie, LEUNG Wing Ting Alice
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Animal Species: Yangtze finless porpoise
Location: Hubei, China
Date: January 9 to 22, 2019
Principal Investigator: Dr. HAN Yi, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Research Focus: Summarizing experience and promotion of Yangtze finless porpoise wild population recovery in Dongting Lak

Students' Work: 
  • Conduct literature review for the distribution data of the Yangtze finless porpoise between 1980 and 2000
  • Practice the use of Google Earth Engine to trace geographical changes of large areas over a long period of time
  • Observe the husbandry of Yangtze finless porpoises in Baiji Dolphinarium

Journey record: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 

YAU Hiu Shuen Natalie, ZHAO Xiangnan Jennifer
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

WONG Mei Yi Murray
City University of Hong Kong

WONG Shu Yung Celeste
The Open University of Hong Kong

Animal Species: Yangtze finless porpoise
Location: Hubei, China
Date: June 1 to 14, 2019
Principal Investigator: Dr. HAO Yujiang, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Research Focus: Monitoring and welfare assessment of Yangtze finless porpoise under human care

Students' Work: 
  • Assist the population survey of Yangtze finless porpoise
  • Observe the husbandry and training of Yangtze finless porpoises in Baiji Dolphinarium

Journey record: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5