"This is the first time Hong Kong applied this technique to trace a green turtle," AFCD Nature Conservation Officer Simon ChanKin-fung said at a media briefing Saturday on the conservation work and breeding result of green turtles in Hong Kong this year.

"Green turtle is the only species of sea turtles that breed in Hong Kong. Its only existing nesting site in Hong Kong is at Sham Wan. Before AFCD carried out the satellite tracking program, we did not know where its feeding ground was and which migratory path it followed," he said.

A satellite transmitter was attached to the back of a female green turtle by AFCD staff after it laid eggs at Sham Wan, Lamma Island on August 9. The released turtle then headed southwestward along the coastline of the South China Sea to her feeding ground at a speed of 0.5 to 2 kilometers (0.3 to 1.2 miles) per hour.

The green turtle took about 20 days to reach Hainan Island, over 500 kilometers (311 miles) away from Hong Kong. It stayed in the coastal waters off the eastern part of the island where it fed and swam in the shallow waters.

Green turtles are a special group of marine reptiles and are remarkable for their migratory behavior. They spend most of their time in shallow water feeding ground. During the breeding season, instinct drives mature turtles to travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometers from their feeding grounds back to their natal beach to lay eggs.

Tracing their migratory routes and feeding grounds can help draw up the necessary protection measures and seek cooperation with relevant authorities, Chan said.

"Last year, AFCD worked with its counterparts in the Guangdong Ocean and Fishery Bureau in conducting a satellite tracking project for three Green Turtles at Gangkou National Nature Reserve. The satellite signals indicated that two turtles traveled to Hainan Island and one to Okinawa, Japan," he said.

"Other measures for the conservation of the South China green turtle include the exchange of nesting information, scientific studies and staff training," Chan said.

Regarding the breeding results of green turtles in Hong Kong for this breeding season from June to October, he said AFCD found six clutches of green turtle eggs at Sham Wan. It was estimated that over 500 eggs were hatched naturally and successfully.

Chan urged members of the public to report any sighting or stranding of sea turtles to AFCD on 1823 so as to help protect this endangered species.

He also hoped that vessels can try to avoid entering the sea inlet of Sham Wan during sea turtle breeding season so as to minimize any potential disturbance to the sea turtles.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2002)