Table 5.5b Evaluation of Faunal Species of Conservation Interest Recorded Within Assessment Area

Common Name	Scientific Name	Conservation Status*	Protection Status**, Distribution
Avifauna***
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	PRC (RC)	Locally common and widespread. Large secure population of regional significance.
Pacific Reef Egret	Egretta sacra	(LC)	Locally common and widespread but has restricted breeding population.
Chinese Pond Heron	Ardeola bacchus	PRC (RC)	Locally common and widespread. Large local population is declining.
Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	(LC)	Locally common and widespread but has restricted breeding population.
Yellow Bittern	Ixobrychus sinensis	(LC)	Locally common and widespread but declining and has restricted breeding population.
White-bellied Sea Eagle	Haliaeetus leucogaster	(RC)	Class II protected species under mainland legislation. Locally uncommon.
Black Kite	Milvus migrans	(RC)	Class II protected species under mainland legislation. Locally common and widespread but with restricted roosting and breeding sites.
Crested Goshawk	Accipiter trivirgatus	-	Class II protected species under mainland legislation. Locally common, widespread and increasing population.
Collared Scops Owl	Otus bakkamoena	-	Class II protected species under mainland legislation. Locally common and widespread.
Greater Coucal	Centropus sinensis	-	Class II protected species under mainland legislation. Locally common and widespread.
Lesser Coucal	Centropus bengalensis	-	Class II protected species under mainland legislation. Locally fairly common and widespread.
Herpetofauna
Chinese Cobra	Naja atra	PRC	Protected. Locally common and widespread but regionally declining population.
Mammals
Japanese Pipistrelle	Pipistrellus abramus	-	Protected. Common and widespread.
Dog-faced Fruit Bat	Cynopterus sphinx sphinx	-	Protected. Common and widespread.
Palla’s Squirrel	Callosciurus erythraeus	-	Protected. Common and widespread.

* LC – Local Concern (Habitat loss/damage in Hong Kong would pose significant threat to local survival); RC – Regional Concern (Habitat loss/damage in Hong Kong would pose significant threat to regional survival); PRC – Potential Regional Concern (Large, secure populations in Hong Kong are of regional significance). Letters in parentheses indicate that assessment of status is based on restrictedness of breeding and/or roosting sites rather than general occurrence. Refer to Fellowes et al. (2002) for further explanation of status.

** Information taken from various sources including Karsen et al. (1998), Carey et al. (2001), and Fellows et al. (2002)

***All wild birds are protected under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap.170).