Threats: catchwater

Since the 1980s, in order to improve Hong Kong’s flooding problem during the rainy season, the Hong Kong government has converted many natural rivers into artificial catchwater to help discharge floods. However, when constructing these catchwater, the government did not consider the problem of habitat transformation and its ecological impacts.

​Natural River

Food ⭕

Slow water flow

Hiding place   ⭕

Breeding site   ⭕

catchwater

Fast water flow

food ❌

Hiding place   ❌

Breeding site   ❌

Using Hong Kong newt as a starting point, we hope to urge the Water Supplies Department to improve the drainage work as soon as possible. According to researchers, Hong Kong’s catchwater do not have suitable plants and water bodies for the breeding of Hong Kong newts. Some catchwater in Hong Kong are very long, newts that have been washed away are now far away from the original breeding sites and populations, and there are no suitable habitats at the downstream areas. According to our observations, Hong Kong newt has the ability to climb vertically, which means they still have a chance to escape the catchwater. But even if they do climb out, they may not be near any suitable habitats. At the same time, other animals are often trapped in catchwater, such as barking deers, cattle, porcupines, wild boars, stray cats and dogs, and other amphibians and reptiles.