Only 78 animals were found in 2011, a 70 per cent drop since 2003. Construction and noise pollution are driving pink dolphins away from their normal habitat. "I've been working on dolphin conservation for over a decade, and this is the worst situation I've seen," activist said.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The construction of a bridge that would connect Hong Kong to Macau and Zhuhai by 2016 is harming an already small population of pink dolphins, the iconic animal that is one of the city's main tourist attractions.

Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society chairman Samuel Hung Ka-yiu slammed construction for its invasiveness and the noise pollution it causes. For the activist, dolphins are in a "dire" situation, seeing their numbers drop dramatically in the past ten years.

Last year, just 17 dolphins were seen in the waters west of Lantau Island, 70 per cent fewer than in 2003. Nevertheless, the biggest decline was in the area northeast of the island, where only four dolphins were seen last year. The number of dolphin sightings was already down 60 per cent in that area from 2011 to 2012.

In January, the South China Morning Post reported that transport authorities were thinking about a fourth runway for the city's airport.

Speaking about the issue, Dr Hung said, "This is a competition we will never win over the mainland because they have massive land available for airports".

The bridge on the Pearl River will also affect the habitat where dolphins are struggling to survive.

"I've been working on dolphin conservation for over a decade," Hung explained, and "damage will be irreversible if the situation continues to deteriorate."

 

• hong
• kong
• development
• airport
• runaway
• bridge