Global News - March 2008

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Airport expansion in Hong Kong 'would threaten dolphins'

Fri 28 March 2008 14:00 UK — Asia,Marine Wildlife

Local wildlife experts have warned that the expansion of Hong Kong's airport could threaten the area's population of rare dolphins.

Reuters reported that around 200 Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins - commonly called Chinese white dolphins - currently live in the waters near Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok international airport.

While populations have remained stable over recent years, conservationists have now warned that pressure to expand the airport's facilities will put the mammals at risk.

Local expert Samuel Hung told Reuters: "The proposed third runway is quite close to some important habitats so that will further bring some disturbance to the dolphin population."

The conservationists also expressed concern about a proposed bridge that would link Macau and a new town project on the island where the airport currently stands.

"There is already a lot of development pressure in that area and it poses a great threat to the dolphins so I think if there's an additional project, that will be quite a disaster for the dolphins," Mr Hung told the news agency.

Currently, the IUCN does not have enough data to accurately assess the number of Chinese white dolphins that survive in the wild.

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