The Hong Kong Newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) is an amphibian that primarily inhabits in clear streams and ponds. Their bodies are dark brown or black with striking orange or red patches on their bellies. These newts are usually active in water but can also be found on moist land. Due to various threats, this species is currently classified as “Near Threatened.”
In addition to being a mobile app for recording hiking journeys, TrailWatch has always aimed to promote conservation efforts through collaboration. Recently, TrailWatch was honoured to partner with the “LIFE (CYCLE) OF THE HONG KONG NEWT” exhibition. Curated by nature enthusiast ecological photographer Fung Hon Shing (Ah Shing), the exhibition features works by several wildlife photographers and documents the life of the Hong Kong Newt. The exhibition showcases these small creatures’ lives in the wild and the threats they face, raising awareness and concern about their survival. Part of the exhibition highlights the serious issue of roadkill through displays of newt carcasses.
Beyond the exhibition, TrailWatch collaborates with Lingnan University’s scientific research team on their roadkill research project, using TrailWatch as a platform to record roadkill data. Participants in the project can use TrailWatch’s Incident Report function to instantly record and upload roadkill incidents. This data is then used by Lingnan University’s research team for further study and to develop conservation measures. To date, over 1,000 reports of Hong Kong Newt roadkill incidents have been collected.
To explore more effective conservation measures, TrailWatch has included several routes with previous roadkill incidents in the Hong Kong Newt category. If users pass by these routes and encounter roadkill cases, they can immediately record and upload them using the Report Function on TrailWatch. Together, we can protect these precious creatures and preserve Hong Kong’s natural ecology.