All Categories Staff Volunteer Activities About the Trust

The CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team (“CARE Team”) is dedicated not only to community service but also to addressing ecological and environmental issues, aiming to raise public awareness about nature conservation.

Experts indicate that most butterflies worldwide spend the winter in their larval or pupal stages, while certain species migrate like birds during the colder months. Ecologists have identified various migratory butterfly species, including 11 out of the 14 butterfly species found in Hong Kong that exhibit migratory or overwintering behaviours. Conservationists estimate that Hong Kong serves as a crucial stopover for these wintering butterflies; however, the exact migration routes they take through Hong Kong and Mainland China remain largely unknown.

To protect butterflies and their habitats, the CARE Team organised the Parent-Child Butterfly Marking Experiential Programme from October to December 2024, engaging over 50 CARE volunteers and their children. This programme aimed to encourage parent-child participation in hands-on eco-activities, enhancing their understanding of butterfly marking and ecology while fostering a spirit of volunteerism and environmental awareness in children.

During the training session on 6 October, the CARE volunteers learnt about butterfly ecology and the proper use of marking tools at the Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve in Tai Po (“Fung Yuen”). Through interactive briefings and hands-on practice, the volunteers acquired essential techniques for butterfly marking, including netting, checking the gender and wing condition of butterflies, marking, and measuring forewing length. They were also reminded to complete the relevant record forms before releasing the tagged butterflies back to their original locations. The training sparked a sense of curiosity among the children, where parents patiently guided them through the instructor’s explanations in preparation for the upcoming practical sessions.

The two practical sessions also took place at Fung Yuen., which is renowned for its rich butterfly diversity, hosting nearly 90% of butterfly species found in Hong Kong. During these sessions, the CARE volunteers engaged in butterfly marking under the guidance of the instructor and assisted in collecting data to better understand and analyse the migratory butterflies, including their species, migration routes, and behaviours.