Flag Day 2023

Public Subscription Permit No.: FD/R054/2023

[ Volunteer quota is FULL ]

In the past 50 years, there is an average of 68% decline in wildlife population, the main reasons include habitat destruction, climate change, plastic pollution, overharvesting, illegal trade, etc. Thus, the threats to animals and ecosystems are growing direfully. It is imperative for human beings to take actions.

Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK) will hold the Hong Kong Island Flag Day on 26 August 2023. The theme of Flag Day this year is "Let's Protect Our Biodiversity Together". 15 animal ambassadors, including endangered and critically endangered species such as orangutans, yellow-breasted buntings, red pandas, Asian elephants, green sea turtles, and local native Beale’s eyed turtles, will join forces to promote the importance of biodiversity. Through the event, the public can gain deeper understanding of the crises these animals face, inspiring us to take actions to save them. All proceeds from the event will go to OPCFHK to support cetacean stranding work in Hong Kong, community and public education programmes, and scientific research projects on the conservation of local and Asian species.

The Director of Social Welfare Department has given approval to three organisations to sell flags to solicit donations, one each at the Hong Kong Island region, Kowloon region and the New Territories region on August 26, 2023 and OPCFHK is authorised to conduct flag sale in Hong Kong Island on that day.

Introduction

Green Turtle

In the past five years, Ocean Park rescued 21 sea turtles, among which 10 were found with marine debris, fish hooks, or fishing nets in their intestines. The debris that ingested, poses a serious threat to the life of green sea turtles. Let's reduce the use of single-use plastic products and protect biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Endangered (IUCN Red List)

 

Chinese White Dolphin

According to the findings from the cetacean stranding cases that OPCFHK handled, "lung infection" (including pneumonia, parasitism, and bacterial infections) is one of the common identifiable causes of death among stranding cases. We should avoid using shampoo and shower gel on boats to prevent untreated chemicals from directly polluting the marine environment. Let's work together to protect biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)

Spotted Seal

Spotted seals rely on sea ice for breeding and raising their cubs. However, global warming has led to a significant reduction in sea ice coverage, particularly in the Arctic where 47,000 square kilometers of ice disappeared. This has led to a gradual reduction of the seals' food supply, which lowers the survival rate of young sported seal1. Let's take action to combat climate change and protect biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Least Concern

Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise

Indo-Pacific finless porpoise in Hong Kong waters are often entangled by discarded fishing nets or gear, known as "ghost nets” and affected their lives. OPCFHK even found fishing hooks in the stomachs of stranded cetaceans during necropsy, showing that discarded fishing gears pose threats to their lives. Let's reduce marine debris and protect biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)

Red Panda

Logging for land development of housing, agriculture, and construction, has caused the loss or fragmentation of red panda habitats. Scientists estimate that the population of red panda has already declined by half in the past 20 years. Let's protect wild habitats and biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Endangered (IUCN Red List)

Malayan Sun Bear

The Sun Bear is critically endangered in dense rainforest. In Borneo, the habitat loss of sun bear is caused by the deforestation due to logging and planting palm trees for palm oil, it is estimated that the global population of sun bears has fallen by 25%. Let's protect wild habitats and biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)

Bengal Tiger

Over the past few decades, Bengal tiger habitats have been largely destroyed, primarily due to deforestation for palm oil and food production. The shrinking of their habitats has led to tigers lacking places to hunt and breed, ultimately affecting the population size. Let's choose product that use sustainable palm, protect wild habitats and biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Endangered (IUCN Red List)

Snow Leopard

Snow leopards mostly live in the snow line region at elevations between 3,000 and 4,500 meters. Due to climate change, 30% of the habitats of snow leopard are about to disappear. Changes in temperature affect the growth and distribution of plants, causing the degradation of forests and reducing their hunting grounds, posing a threat to their survival. Let's take action to combat climate change and protect biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)

Orangutan

The Indonesian rainforest is an important habitat for orangutans, but it has been disappearing due to agriculture, urban development, and deforestation as well as forest fires. Within just 25 years, an area of the size of the UK has been lost, seriously threatening orangutans and other rainforest species. Let's reduce the use of wood products, like paper, disposable chopsticks etc. and protect wild habitats and biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)

Asian Elephant

Illegal hunting and trade have continuously increased, leading to the poaching of Asian Elephants. Only 30,000 wild Asian Elephants are currently left. They are killed not only for their ivory but also sold illegally to other tourist destinations, exacerbating the threat of their extinction. Let's not purchase products made from wild animals, and combat illegal hunting to protect biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Endangered (IUCN Red List)

Giant Panda

Due to human development, the habitat and primary food source (bamboo) of the giant panda have disappeared and destroyed. There are only over 1,800 wild giant pandas remaining in China, and they are still suffering from fragmented habitats, leading to solitary life and decrease in reproduction. Let's practice low-carbon living, protect wild habitats and biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)

Eurasian Otter

The Eurasian otter is the most widely distributed otter species globally, but over the past few decades, their habitats have suffered from severe pollution and river modification, directly affecting water quality and terrain and indirectly affecting their food quantity and range, resulting in a significant decrease in their wild population. Let's reduce the use of disposable plastic products, protect wild habitats and biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Near Threatened (IUCN Red List)

Beale’s-eyed Turtle

Beale’s eyed turtles have distinctive eye markings and become a popular pet, luring poachers to capture them for profit. According to recent surveys, it is believed that Hong Kong's remaining population is less than 100, and it may also be the last population of Beale’s eyed turtle in southern China. The Hong Kong government has seized over 1,000 turtle traps from 2011 to 2020, indicating a severe problem. Let's adopt instead of buying, combat illegal hunting, and protect biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Endangered (IUCN Red List)

Yellow-breasted Bunting

The yellow-breasted bunting is threatened with extinction due to overhunting. During their migration season, people hunt them in large numbers in rice fields to sell to restaurants for profit. Their population is declining more rapidly than that of the giant panda. In 2017, it was upgraded from endangered to critically endangered in IUCN Red List, and conservation of this species is urgent. Let's combat illegal hunting and pledge not to eat yellow-breasted buntings to   protect biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)

Gentoo Penguin

Climate change has affected the distribution of the main food source of penguins – fish and krill, causing food shortages. Penguins need to swim farther to obtain food, and many weak penguins die from exhaustion along the way. Some young penguins die from lack of parental feeding. A study showed that breeding of the Gentoo Penguin have been affected due to the habitat loss caused by climate change. The number of young penguins has decreased by about 60%, posing a threat to their population. Let's take action to combat climate change. Eat more vegetables and less meat and protect biodiversity!

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)

**IUCN Red List - International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List

Volunteer Registration

[ Volunteer quota is FULL ]

Volunteers will receive a “buy one get one free Ocean Park general admission ticket coupon”* and e-certificate. 

*Valid from September 1, 2023 till December 31, 2023

Gold Flag Donation

Gold Flag is available now! With donation of HK$100 or above, you can receive a special edition Gold Flag Sticker Sheet as a token of our appreciation for your donation. For donation of HK$1000 or above, you will receive an eco-bag designed by famous fashion designer Ms Vivienne Tam plus a special edition Gold Flag Sticker Sheet.

Remarks:

  • All items are available on first-come, first-served basis
  • HK$100 or above is eligible for a tax-deductible receipt

 

Special Edition Gold Flag Sticker Sheet

For donations of HK$100 or above, you will receive a special edition Gold Flag Sticker Sheet.

 

Eco-bag

For donations of HK$1,000 or above, you will receive an eco-bag designed by famous fashion designer, Ms Vivienne Tam plus a special edition Gold Flag Sticker Sheet.

 

*For corporate purchase and enquiries, please contact at 3923 2080 or opcfhkevent@oceanpark.com.hk