Ocean Park Hong Kong officially unveiled its new Asian Horseshoe Crab Conservation and Breeding Centre—the city’s one-of-a-kind ex-situ facility dedicated to protecting these threatened marine species. Made possible through sponsorship from named donors Mr Kenneth Yam and Ms Judy Sin, the new back-of-house hub spearheads targeted reproduction efforts for future repopulation of endangered local horseshoe crab species. The Centre will also serve as an educational platform highlighting the scientific and ecological importance of their preservation.

“The inauguration of the new Asian Horseshoe Crab Conservation and Breeding Centre marks a significant contribution to combating the extinction of a species that has existed on Earth for over 475 million years. These ‘living fossils’, which predate the dinosaurs, face an urgent crisis with local populations plummeting by over 90% in 20 years. Thanks to the immense generosity of Mr Kenneth Yam and Ms Judy Sin, we can expand our capacity for ex-situ rearing of native horseshoe crab species, substantially increase hatchling survival rates, and coordinate strategic wild releases. Coupled with ongoing monitoring, research, habitat protection, and public education championed by Ocean Park, Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK), and our partners, we are confident that the Centre will drive impactful conservation,” said Mr Ivan Wong, Chief Executive of Ocean Park Corporation.

Mr Kenneth Yam and Ms Judy Sin, named donors of the Asian Horseshoe Crab Conservation and Breeding Centre at Ocean Park, said, “We are deeply honoured to support Ocean Park in safeguarding Hong Kong’s unique marine heritage. Nature is an interconnected web; we hope to not only aid the survival of these incredible creatures, but also inspire a new generation to appreciate and actively conserve our oceans.”

Safeguarding Hong Kong’s ancient mariners
Despite their name, horseshoe crabs are not true crabs—they are ancient marine creatures more closely related to spiders and scorpions. There are four horseshoe crab species globally, two of which are native to Hong Kong: the mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) and the tri-spine horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus).

As crucial components of the mudflat ecosystem, these “living fossils” have become increasingly vulnerable over the years due to severe threats from human activities, particularly habitat loss and degradation. Highlighting this urgency, the tri-spine horseshoe crab was officially listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species in 2019.

Reversing this decline, however, requires overcoming steep biological hurdles. Breeding these ancient creatures presents unique challenges; with a life cycle typically spanning 20 years, they only reach sexual maturity and begin breeding around ten years. Therefore, once a population is damaged, it takes an extremely long time to recover.

To tackle these exact biological bottlenecks, the new Asian Horseshoe Crab Conservation and Breeding Centre at Ocean Park acts as a crucial sanctuary for rescued horseshoe crabs and a dedicated breeding ground. Through knowledge exchange and collaboration with experts across Asia, Ocean Park has initiated a targeted breeding programme utilising rescued tri-spine horseshoe crabs undergoing rehabilitation at the Park. This initiative has successfully produced its first batch of juvenile horseshoe crabs, which the husbandry team is carefully nurturing with the ultimate goal of releasing them back into the wild once they reach a suitable stage for release.

Building on this early success, the new partnership provides the vital resources needed to take these efforts even further, empowering the Park to refine its specialised breeding techniques. Furthermore, the upgraded facility provides a controlled, optimal environment for breeding adult horseshoe crabs, monitoring the health of juveniles, rehabilitating rescued individuals, and preparing them for future release to restore fragile local populations.

Decades of conservation endeavours at Ocean Park
For decades, Ocean Park and OPCFHK have championed horseshoe crab conservation through a multi-faceted approach. This includes population surveys and a rearing programme that empowers students and corporate partners alike. Recognising that effective conservation extends beyond individual horseshoe crabs to the protection of the entire mudflat ecosystem, a core aspect of the donation is to empower Ocean Park to expand its educational outreach.

As part of this effort, the public will soon be able to join behind-the-scenes tours of the new Centre to see the vital work firsthand and be inspired to protect these ancient creatures. This milestone facility highlights the profound impact of combining individual philanthropy with corporate sponsorship, and Ocean Park looks forward to forging more multi-stakeholder partnerships to collectively drive wildlife conservation.