Wildlife indigenous to Hong Kong and where to spot them

Photo credit: okiox / Flickr

This is a large white bird that wades in shallow waters, so named for its distinctive beak that is shaped like a spoon. In wintertime, these spoonbills migrate south to their wintering grounds, mainly around Taiwan and the Pearl River Delta—this means we might be able to spot them in Mai Po Inner Deep Bay, Futian Nature Reserve, and Macau. The Black-faced spoonbill is a globally endangered species only found in East Asia, with an estimated world population of just 3,941. About 20 percent of their global numbers can be found in Hong Kong over winter.

Photo credit: Andrew Hardacre / Wild Creatures Hong Kong

Unless you go traipsing around the wilderness of Hong Kong at night, you’re rather unlikely to come across the Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica). These stripey creatures that rather resemble a hybrid of house cat and otter are nocturnal, living on the ground and nesting in holes or under rocks. While difficult for most people to spot, they are frequently captured on infra-red camera traps in the Mai Po Nature Reserve.

The masked palm civet, also known as the gem-faced civet (Paguma larvata), is even less abundant. They haven’t got the spots or stripes in other civets, but black and white markings on the face that looks like a mask instead. Do try not to alarm it if you spot one because, like a skunk, this animal will spray a secretion from its anal gland when threatened, which smells awful.

Photo credit: Phuket Nature Tours

The East Asian or Malayan Porcupine (Hystrix brachyura) tend to be asleep during the daytime, but you might still come across them while hiking sometimes. They have been spotted quite frequently around Bowen Road, Black’s Link, and on The Peak. Because they pair up as mates, if you see one, you’ll likely also find its partner nearby. Listen out for the tell-tale rustling of their quills.

If you do come across a porcupine, give it ample space; when threatened, they will raise their quills in warning and back towards the perceived danger with the spiky ends. Sadly, every year porcupines get seriously injured by dogs attacking on instinct, so keep your pet on the lead if you’re on walkies and see a spiky friend.

Photo credit: SummitPost

Most of the monkeys local to Hong Kong are Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Locals used to feed them, which has contributed greatly to a boom in their numbers, so much so that Kam Shan is known informally as Monkey Mountain. Feeding them is now illegal, but they have long since learned that humans often carry food, and have no qualms about aggressively ripping plastic bags straight out of your hands.

The primates around the Shing Mun Reservoir are relatively more chill, and are better subjects to observe in their natural habitat. It’s useful to know that excessive eye contact with a monkey is a sign of aggression, as is showing your teeth, so mind your body language!

Photo credit: Culture Trip

Kites (Milvus migrans) are very common in Hong Kong, having adapted to be comfortable soaring above both the city and the countryside. You’ll often see these scavenging birds swooping around The Peak around sunset, along Sai Kung Pier, or above the mountains of Clearwater Bay. Being able to see a flock of kites in action is like seeing a birds of prey documentary in real life.

Photo credit: pciao / Hong Kong Bird Watching Society

There are two known species of mongoose in Hong Kong, and the more common (as well as the prettier) is the Small Asian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus). They mainly inhabit open plains and wetlands, where they have easier access to their preferred diet of insects, amphibians, crabs, and eggs. Don’t let their cute appearance fool you—these are feisty little guys who will even take on the venomous Chinese cobra for a meal! There have been minimal sightings on Hong Kong island, but you might luck out at Tai Mo Shan, Tai Lam, Plover Cove, or more likely at the Mai Po marshes.

The other larger species is the Crab-eating mongoose (Herpestes urva), which can be identified by its grey-brown fur and a white stripe on the shoulder. They are rather rare and their distribution is restricted to northern Hong Kong, in Lin Ma Hang, Sha Tau Kok, Pat Sin Leng, Ma On Shan, and Plover Cove.

Photo credit: Remote Lands

The cows of Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay are free-roaming and well-loved among the locals, even though bizarre incidents have happened such as a cow breaking into a supermarket to munch on greens. Across the territories in south Lantau, water buffalo can be found in the wetlands of Pui O, often also along Cheung Sha Wan beach.

Both these species are descendants of farm help that used to be kept for plowing fields, then later turned loose with the decline of agriculture. They are often followed by local cattle egrets, who feed on the insects on these gentle bovines.

Photo credit: CGTN

The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) may be one of Hong Kong’s most threatened species as they are used in traditional Chinese medicine and are illegally poached for the sale of its meat and scales in wildlife markets—they have been all but eradicated at this point in mainland China.

Pangolins have characteristic grey brown scales over their whole bodies apart from the belly and inner limbs; these scales have razor sharp edges and can be raised when the pangolin curls up in defense. To protect this critically endangered species, a five-year plan starting in 2019 has been put in place to better its conservation and survival chances.

Photo credit: Bernard DUPONT / Flickr / Wikimedia Commons

The red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) is also known as barking deer because the male’s call surprisingly sounds like a dog’s bark. This species is one of the most abundant and widely distributed mammals in Hong Kong. It sports two small canines that protrude, much like a vampire or a sabre-toothed feline. Despite its relative prolificity, it’s relatively difficult to spot because they are nocturnal and also terribly shy—in fact, these deer are so timid that they have been known to die of fright when captured!

Photo credit: Science Source

Bats surprisingly comprise almost half of the mammal species in Hong Kong. Some species are common in both rural and urban areas, such as the Short-nosed fruit bat which nestles in the Chinese fan-palm plant, and the Japanese Pipistrelle, which prefers roosting in man-made structures like air conditioning units. Rarer species include the Greater Bamboo bat, which has only been recorded in the Plover Cove Country Park in recent years, and Horsfield’s Myotis which can only be found in water tunnels in Shek Kong, Tung Tze, and Nam Chung.

Photo credit: KO Ka Ho / iNaturalist

There are also several smaller wildlife creatures and fauna endemic to Hong Kong, such as the Entoria victoria and Neohirasea hongkongensis stick insects, which can be found in rural Sai Kung or Tai Po Kau. The Hong Kong Jumper spider (Psenuc hongkong) and Hong Kong South Sea crab (Nanhaipotamon hongkongense) have both even been scientifically named after our city.

Two other unique critters that have only been found in Hong Kong are Bogadek’s Burrowing Lizard (which really looks more like a worm than a lizard) and the tiny Gascoignella aprica sea slug.