Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2020complete | Page 50

The Wildlife of the Greater Bay Area
W F Joseph Lee Primary School, Chan, Celina - 11
The Pearl River Delta in Guangdong, China, is the most densely populated region in the world. Despite
this, the Greater Bay Area is still a home of some fascinating creatures, such as the Crested Myna, the Red-
Billed Magpie. These birds normally make big cities their home, including the Greater Bay area. Even
though some megafauna manage to have a secretive life, such as the Chinese Serow. They are near
threatened and reside in rocky terrains like mountains or hills. The Chinese Serow has guard hairs on its coat
that are bristly or coarse and cover the layer of fur closest to its skin to keep them warm in the harsh
temperatures of mountains. The Chinese Serow is rare in the Greater Bay Area and is territorial, living alone
or in small groups. It usually stays in small areas and feeds on grass or leaves. Compared to other areas, the
Greater Bay Area has a slightly larger population of Chinese Serow than other large cities.
Zhaoqing has splendid mountains and historical scenic spots. Xinghu Lake Scenic Area is one of the first
batches of national key scenic spots; provincial-level scenic spots include Fengkai Lungshan Scenic Area and
Huaiji Yanyan Scenic Area. Dinghu Mountain is one of the "four famous mountains in Guangdong". It is
the first nature reserve in China and is listed by UNESCO as an international biosphere reserve.
This well-known creature in the Greater Bay area is the Hong Kong Grouper, which is exclusive only to
Hong Kong and the Greater Bay area. Its natural habitats are shallow seas and coral reefs. This giant grouper
is the largest member of the grouper family. It is tasty, nutritious and highly regarded in Asia as a premium
fish comparable to the salmon in Western countries. Because of this popularity and the subsequent rising
demand of grouper, it has been a struggle for the species to thrive in Asian waters. Like all other sea fish, it
has been overharvested in recent years and is becoming rare, with the possibility of becoming extinct.
Experts believe that overfishing decreases future supplies and ultimately affects our food chain and marine
ecology as a whole. As the Hong Kong Grouper is nearly extinct, Hong Kong people should refrain from
consuming this fish.
The other fascinating creature that resides in the Greater Bay Area is the White cloud mountain minnow
(Tanichthys albonubes) This attractive fish is endemic to Guangdong. It was first named in 1932 and found
only in the White Cloud Mountain and a few mountain streams. The species was thought to be extinct in
the wild since as none were found for about 20 years, although it has survived in the aquarium trade.
Fortunately, a wild population was rediscovered in Guangzhou in 2003. Its decline is believed to be
primarily the result of the drying up of streams due to soil erosion and stream diversions caused by
deforestation. This species grows to approximately 4 cm (roughly 1.5 in) in overall length, and is silvergreen
in colour with a bright red dorsal fin.
The White Cloud Mountain minnow will commonly feed on a variety of seagrasses and insect larvae. They
also particularly like mosquito and shrimp. When they are short on food or in times of need, the White
Cloud Mountain Minnow often looks for more nutritious foods including fruits, nuts, and in extreme cases,
they have been observed to be scavenging off carcasses of fellow pond-dwelling creatures. Many breeders
will have the White Cloud Mountain fish in captivity and breeding since they make great starter fishes.
As the Pearl River drains into the South China Sea, the distribution of biodiversity too takes an interesting
course. Hard and soft corals pop up wherever there are clear waters, while famous species like the Chinese
White Dolphin and the Chinese Bahaba can still be found pulling themselves through in the severely
polluted mouth of the Pearl River. Needless to mention, the region faces tremendous conservation
pressures, which include habitat loss, water pollution, the world's most rapid rate of urbanization and
development.