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The Amphibian and Reptile Adoption Day will be held tomorrow and Sunday (March 16 and 17) from 11am to 8pm at the Atrium, Level 2, Sunshine City Plaza, Ma On Shan.
The adoption day is jointly organised by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Hong Kong Society of Herpetology to encourage people to adopt abandoned amphibians and reptiles and promote responsible pet ownership.
The event will feature an educational exhibition, a game booth, tips and advice on keeping reptiles and amphibians and an animal adoption consultation service. Visitors will have a chance to meet the animals that are up for adoption including the red-eared slider, the Reeve's turtle, the common snapping turtle and the bearded dragon. Those visiting the game booth will receive souvenirs while stocks last.
To encourage people to learn more about animal ecology and enhance their awareness of nature conservation, a number of endangered species such as the red-tailed boa, the ball python, the monitor lizard, the Malayan box turtle and the axolotl will also be displayed.
Many animals deserve a second chance to be a lovable pet after being abandoned or given up by their owners. The AFCD encourages the public to adopt abandoned or surrendered animals through approved non-profit-making animal welfare organisations. Currently, abandoned or unclaimed pets with a friendly temperament and good health are selected by the AFCD and sent to 13 partner animal welfare organisations for adoption and rehoming. In 2011 and 2012, the number of animals rehomed by the AFCD through its partner organisations was over 2,000.
For more information about the event and the animal adoption programme, please visit www.pets.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, March 15, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:01
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