Jelajahi Ocean Park.
Ocean Park proudly marks the commencement of the second year of Seahorse Rangers, a unique conservation and educational venture empowering students from across Hong Kong to become conservation advocates. As the biggest student conservation group in the city, the initiative has amassed more than 10,000 enthusiastic participants from over 520 schools since its inception. This year also marks the introduction of large-scale panda-inspired educational elements under the initiative.
Today, a gathering of nearly 1,600 teachers, students and distinguished guests from the HKSAR Government and education sector celebrated the Second Pledging Ceremony for Seahorse Rangers.
“Ocean Park has always stood firm in its commitment to conservation and education, striving to offer a wealth of educational resources and activities to the education community. We are thrilled to unite schools from all 18 districts in Hong Kong, fostering conservation through the impactful Ocean Park Seahorse Rangers initiative. Thanks to the support from the Environment and Conservation Fund which has enabled us to expand the programme to the kindergarten category, the number of students and teachers participating in Seahorse Rangers has multiplied significantly. Now that we have a total of six giant pandas in Ocean Park, one of our new goals is to provide students with more opportunities to comprehend and engage in giant panda conservation efforts,” said Ivan Wong, Chief Executive of Ocean Park Corporation.
Riding the wave of panda fever in Hong Kong, Ocean Park has infused panda-inspired educational elements into the Seahorse Rangers initiative. In early 2024, the Park hosted the world's largest panda faeces papermaking lesson involving 369 Seahorse Rangers participants. In November 2024, students were privileged to converse with panda experts from Sichuan and Hong Kong through an enlightening online forum.
This year, students will have the chance to gain a deeper understanding of this remarkable species while fostering a sense of conservation awareness through interactive workshops and experiences, such as the thrilling opportunity to step into the shoes of a panda caretaker through immersive interactive games. Moreover, a learning programme will be conducted at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures and Giant Panda Adventure in the first half of 2025 for Seahorse Rangers to embark on an exploration of the characteristics of giant pandas and their natural habitat.
“Seahorse Rangers is a very meaningful initiative and I am delighted that it has received enthusiastic support from schools. I hope that students will actively participate in the education activities organised by the Ocean Park to build their passion for conservation. Apart from supporting giant panda conservation work, I hope that students will also join forces with the Hong Kong giant panda family to act as ‘Hong Kong Tourism Ambassadors’ to receive every visitor with warm hospitality, and spread the positive energy and image of Hong Kong.” said Angelina Cheung, Commissioner for Tourism of the HKSAR Government.
The Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation of the HKSAR Government, Mr Mickey Lai, expressed gratitude to Ocean Park for its years of dedicated care for the giant pandas, providing them with a warm and comfortable home. He stated that the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and Ocean Park have all along been committed to conserving species and biodiversity, as well as promoting quality local agricultural and fishery products. He encouraged students to support local seasonal agricultural and fishery products, which will not only allow them to enjoy the freshest and healthiest food but also foster the development of local agricultural and fish farms.
In addition to the ceremony, an engaging panda and Sichuan-themed Cultural & Creative Conservation Market was hosted by over 600 students and teachers today, showcasing their imagination via thoughtfully crafted panda-themed products, including Chinese New Year decorations, stationery, accessories, and more. All proceeds from the market will be dedicated to supporting Ocean Park’s giant panda conservation efforts, contributing to the preservation of these magnificent creatures. Participants also had the opportunity to share conservation messages with Ocean Park visitors.
Aligned with Ocean Park’s conservation advocacy initiative, Mission R, the Park has established the Ocean Park Conservation Alliance in 2023 and its affiliate, Seahorse Rangers in 2024, aiming to ignite students' passion for conservation early on by offering experiential learning experiences outside traditional classrooms, and unify all members' efforts to promote conservation at the community level.
