We often pass by park ponds and see red-eared sliders “swimming freely,” seemingly at ease. Moved by this sight, some people “release” their growing pet turtles into these ponds, believing they’ve found a better home for them.

In reality, many park ponds are graveyards for turtles. Water temperature, disinfectants, and food scarcity lead to high mortality. What we see are merely the survivors of harsh conditions.

Beyond abandoned red-eared sliders in park ponds, Hong Kong’s hillsides and streams have also seen released tortoises and alligator snapping turtles. For this talk at AIRSIDE GATE33 Gallery’s “Wild Togetherland” exhibition, we’ve invited Bon, founder of the local animal rescue group “The Turtle’s Inn,” to share insights. He will bring a tortoise to the venue so visitors can appreciate these magnificent animals up close while learning about the realities of turtle survival and welfare in the city.

Ah Bon will also discuss the recent surge of turtle abandonment linked to emigration, explain responsible ways to relocate with your turtles, and reflect on the bonds between humans and reptiles such as turtles and lizards.