Mission
Since it was established in 1977, Ocean Park has adhered strongly to
its mission:
-To provide local and overseas visitors with experiences that combine
entertainment and education and
-To assist in the understanding and practice of wild life
conservation.
Ocean park aims to be financially viable while offering its patrons a
diverse range of activities at affordable prices.
While continually expanding and improving entertainment facilities
and service standards, we also seek out new educational programmes and opportunities to
promote lifelong learning.
As a not-for-profit organization, Ocean Park exists for the
public’s benefit. We strive to deliver the highest standards of quality service and
customer care.
Ocean
Park situated on the southern side of Hong Kong Island, is one of the world’s
acclaimed educational theme parks covering more than 870,000 square metres of land.
Operated by Ocean Park Corporation, a statutory board, it is a not-for-profit organization
providing equal elements of education, entertainment and conservation at an affordable
price.
Ocean
Park comprises two sections, the Headland and Lowland, connected by a 1.5km cable car
system which offers spectacular, panoramic views of the southern side of Hong Kong and the
South China Sea. Complementing the rides is Ocean Theatre where dolphins and sealions
entertain and educate visitors on the lives of theses marine mammals each day through
their lively performances. Providing more education and enjoyment are the world class
Atoll Reef, Shark Aquarium and pacific Pier exhibits.
At
the Lowland, visitors can meet with the delightful “An An” and “Jia
Jia”, a pair of Giant pandas bestowed on Hong Kong by the central government of China
at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Giant Panda Habitat. The Goldfish Pagoda features more than
100 individuals of 42 species. Other animal exhibits include the Butterfly house and
Dolphin University.
Details
of opening times and entrance costs are available on-line.
Mission
The goal of
the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation is to "advocate, facilitate and participate in
the conservation of marine mammals and their habitats in Asian rivers and coastal waters
through research and education."
Whales,
dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans) in rivers and coastal waters of Asia face many threats.
Without prompt and decisive action, many populations and even some species will likely
disappear in the next decade. Recognizing the problems facing Asian cetaceans, the Ocean
Park Corporation established the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation (OPCF) in October
1993. OPCF became a registered charitable organization in 1995.
The five-year Foundation action plan encompasses 16 specific
projects, including four with the Yangtze River dolphin, or baiji - the most endangered
dolphin species in the world. Others involve the Indo-Pacific Humpbacked dolphin or
Chinese White dolphins in Hong Kong waters.
Scientific
Projects:
The Ocean Park
Conservation Foundation initiates, develops and supports many projects on threatened
species of whales, dolphins and porpoises and their habitats in Asia's riverine and
coastal waters. Below is a summary of some of the successfully completed projects and some
of the new initiatives that will be undertaking in the coming years.
Completed
Projects:
Over the last
few years, OPCF was a major sponsor of live-capture expeditions to remove Baiji from the
dangers of life in the Yangtze River and to stock a semi-natural reserve to conserve the
species. OPCF has contributed its efforts in funding expeditions to survey the confirmed
ranges of the Ganges Susu in Bangladesh. OPCF researchers have conducted a detailed study
of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Hong Kong. In addition, OPCF has also funded a
study of conservation status of humpback dolphins in Xiamen, PRC. In 1997, OPCF helped to
organize a workshop designed to develop a management plan for the Finless Porpoise
population in Yangtze River. A special issue of Asian Marine Biology has been published by
OPCF with the assistance of the Swire Institute of Marine Science. Its contents focused on
Asian whales, dolphins and porpoises and is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr.
Stephen Leatherwood (OPCF's founding director). Indo-Pacific humpback Dolphin surveys in
the Pearl River Estuary (by the South China Sea Fisheries Institute)
Other
funded projects
Research on
Irrawaddy Dolphins in northern Borneo, Malaysia (by Ms Isabel Beasley) and in the Mahakam
River and Lakes in East Kalimantan, Indonesia (by Ms Danielle Kreb) An assessment of the
conservation status of Bottlenose Dolphins in the Taiwan Strait (by Professor Zhou Kaiya).
Interactions between Cetaceans and Fisheries in Hong Kong (by Ms Mientje Torey) Surveys on
river dolphins in the Karnaphuli, Sangu, and Matamuhuri rivers of southeastern Bangladesh
(by Mr Brian D. Smith) Museum exhibition in Wuhan - Baiji : Treasure in the Yangtze River
(by Mr. Henry Genthe) Development of a new action plan for the next five years Surveys in
Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam and China (by Mr. Brian Smith)
Upcoming
and Ongoing Projects:
A Study of the
Status of the Finless Porpoise in Hong Kong (by Dr. Thomas Jefferson) Population and
habitat assessment of the dugong off the Andaman coast of Thailand (by Ms Ellen Hines) A
satellite tracking study to determine the migratory pathways and breeding-calving grounds
of western gray whales (by Dr. David Weller) Satellite tracking of finless porpoises in
Yangtze River, PRC (by Mr. Zhang Xianfeng)
Details of Public Awareness, Education and Sponsorship Programs
are available on-line. |