Ocean Park announced on Thursday that it will hold its annual Conservation Day next month with a call to save freshwater turtles.

Speaking at a kick-off ceremony for the event, Michael Boos, the director of the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, said freshwater turtles are facing various threats in the SAR.

“Our human activities, such as pollution, land development, illegal hunting and trading activities have all contributed to the drastic decline of the number of native freshwater turtles. Local experts estimated that the current freshwater population in Hong Kong is most likely the last population in southern China,” he said.

Boos said this year’s event – to be held on November 5 and 6 – will feature booth games and talks by experts to raise awareness about turtle protection.

Meanwhile, the park said it has also launched a pilot artificial breeding programme aimed at restoring the local freshwater turtle population, and has succeeded in breeding the first baby Beale’s eyed turtle – an endangered species.

"The freshwater turtles take a very long time to become mature for production, that's why if any individuals are being taken away from the environment, the damage is very huge. We're thinking of how to restore the population, and one of the strategic methods is artificial breeding," said Judy Wan, the foundation's community education manager.

The park added that a fraction of gate receipts on the two days will be donated to the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation.