Only a few decades ago, Tai Lam Country Park was a barren domain with scanty vegetation. Badly eroded by rain, the region is characterized by denuded hilltops and ravines. Soon after the completion of Tai Lam Chung Reservoir, afforestation efforts began in 1952 to protect against further erosion and soil loss. In the face of adversities such as poor soil and frequent hillfires, plants gradually established themselves in the park. Thanks to years of dedicated work by afforestation experts, the lush vegetation we see today slowly emerged. Today, pioneer exotic tree species have colonized most parts of the park, while native trees have been given a chance to regenerate on a significant scale. The result is a floral composition of much greater diversity. The extensive forests provide habitats for all types of animals. Sharing these woodlands are amphibians as well as rarer species of snakes, geckoes and skinks.

The site is within Tai Lam Country Park

Green Minibus:

71   Yuen Long Tai Hang Street - Shek Wu Tong (Ho Pui)

Disembark at Ho Pui.

Surveys are conducted by active searching in potential hiding places and breeding grounds such as pools, under rocks and leaf litter, etc.  Tools such as hiking sticks for probing holes along catchwaters, snake hooks and tongs for catching snakes, hand nets for collecting tadpoles, etc. are employed.

For amphibian surveys, night-time auditory detection of calling males at breeding sites, and sampling of tadpoles and eggs in aquatic habitats, are also undertaken.  For snake and lizard surveys, placing of cover boards to increase chances of encountering these animals are also used.

Reptiles

Amphibian