CityUHK hosts groundbreaking exhibition on the story of Hong Kong’s Ocean giants

The Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences (JCC) of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is hosting an exhibition titled “Story of the Ocean Giants: Cetaceans and Sea Turtles”, featuring a wide variety of aquatic animal specimens for the first time, prepared by CityUHK’s team, including 30 cetacean and sea turtle specimens donated and authorised by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), along with five true-to-scale models of these animals, referencing live individuals found in Hong Kong waters. Through innovative display technologies reconciled with conventional museum presentation, the exhibition aims to educate visitors about the health and threats these ocean giants face and how the public can contribute to conservation efforts.

Attending the opening ceremony of the exhibition, held earlier at CityUHK, were Professor Lee Chun-sing, Provost and Deputy President of CityUHK, Mr Mickey Lai Kin-ming, JP, Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Professor Chan Chi-hou, Vice-President (Community Engagement) of CityUHK, and Professor Vanessa Barrs, Dean of the JCC.

Professor Lee stated in his speech, “Humans, animals and the environment are closely interconnected and constantly influence each other's health and wellbeing. This exhibition, themed on the health assessment of cetaceans and sea turtles in Hong Kong waters, along with state-of-the-art digital displays, offers an up-close look at the life journey of these ocean giants.”

Mr Lai wished the exhibition every success and emphasised that despite being a small city, Hong Kong is home to a wide variety of marine species. Protecting precious marine biodiversity requires sincere cooperation from the government and all sectors of society.

“Ecological research is an essential part of protecting marine biodiversity,” he stressed. “CityUHK's research team has made a significant contribution to virtopsy and health assessment techniques for stranded animals using diagnostic imaging techniques such as ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging to learn about the physical condition of the stranded animals from a different perspective. The new knowledge gained from these technologies also helps raise public awareness about the importance of marine conservation.”

Professor Barrs said, “I hope the exhibition situated here at the University will inspire many young people, our innovators and the policymakers of tomorrow to reflect on the challenges we face as a society in preserving biodiversity.”

Other dignitaries attending the exhibition's opening ceremony included Professor Rebecca Traub, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health (PH), Professor Brian Kot Chin-wing, Assistant Professor of PH at CityUHK, Mr Peter Lee Chung-tang, General Manager, Sustainability, at the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Ms Karen Lui King-yung, Senior Manager, Environment, at CLP Power Hong Kong Limited, and Mr Mike Yuen Wai-keung, Vice President at Siemens Healthcare Limited.

The “Story of the Ocean Giants: Cetaceans and Sea Turtles” exhibition is being held on the Link bridge (next to AC3 Bistro), 7th floor of the Lau Ming Wai Academic Building at CityUHK from 30 July 2024 to 30 March 2025.

CityUHK was the first university in Hong Kong to introduce and practice the concept of One Health, which recognises that the health of people, animals and the environment are inextricably intertwined. The JCC of CityUHK is the first veterinary college in Hong Kong, with dual international accreditation of the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree by the UK’s Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council.

Details of the “Story of the Ocean Giants: Cetaceans and Sea Turtles” Exhibition: