Amazing photos of hidden Hong Kong Wildlife by Lawrence Hylton
Lawrence Hylton with Hong Kong Wildlife
Hong Kong wildlife beauty
The city is home to an extremely diverse array of Hong Kong wildlife, ranging from snakes, frogs and turtles to spiders, skinks and more.
Hong Kong houses some of the last remaining species of animals in all of Asia, yet it is the gateway for illegal wildlife trafficking in the region.
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With 24 designated country parks, twenty-two of which are conservation orientated, around three-quarters of Hong Kong is countryside.
Pressure on city’s wildlife
As Hong Kong’s land expansion and population take advantage of the incredible landscape-next-door during a tough season of tackling the aftermath of a global pandemic and political showdown, pressure mounts on the city’s wildlife.
These exotic animals that lurk in the night, away from the glamour of lights, are often forgotten in the dark.
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An exhibition featuring photos from the series, Evenings with Hong Kong’s Wildlife, featured a display of the unique charm of the unseen residents in our city.
Lawrence Hylton is a Hong Kong-British freelance photojournalist, passionate about storytelling through the lens.
Ecological conservation through art
His photography work covers a variety of topics that tell the Hong Kong story. It is his mission to promote ecological conservation through his artistic approach to nature photography.
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His work includes wildlife education as well, using visual tools to document facts and stories about the critters he encounters.
Photography training at Plymouth
Lawrence has a background in photography and received his training at the University of Plymouth.
His interest in wildlife photography stems from a passion for birds in the UK, where he oftentimes participated in citizen surveys for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), particularly the annual Big Garden Birdwatch.
The study of caves and karsts
Lawrence’s interest in speleology, the study of caves and karsts, taught him the intricacy of nature.
His work in speleological conservation involved bats, water quality and freshwater macroinvertebrate surveys and understanding how human activities on the surface could affect underground ecology.
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Since his return to Hong Kong, he has diversified his attention to all wildlife.
To capture the unique photos of animals, he embarks on arduous journeys in the night and explores every corner of Hong Kong’s nature to show vibrant and exciting scenes of wildlife that’s just beyond the concrete jungle.
Hong Kong wildlife conflicts with human
Initially starting out as a photographic project, Lawrence’s attention turned to environmental concerns between human and wildlife conflicts.
His focus quickly turned towards rescuing snakes and sometimes other animals often found trapped inside catchwaters.
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Lawerence tries to educate local hikers in person and online about respecting and protecting Hong Kong’s incredible biodiversity.
He currently runs his own online business in wildlife photography and is regularly featured on social media for his photography.
Text & Photos Lawrence Hylton
