The more you hike in the less “civilized” paths the more chances you have to see the real natural Hong Kong, including snakes, wild boars, etc.

Snakes:

There are several types of snakes in Hong Kong. The majority are non-venomous nor dangerous for humans. Nevertheless, we do have also cobras, vipers, pythons, and others.

What should you do if you find one? Stay calm, give them space and a clear escape route. Most of the snakes, even the cobras, will move out as soon as they feel threatened. You, human, are a way more dangerous predator for them than vice-versa. Usually, as soon as snakes feel us, they move out into the bushes. So the less frequented paths you hike on and the quieter you move the more chances you will have to see them. With most of them, the only chance of having a bad encounter is stepping on them if you are extra quiet, or/and fast… I have had some close ones while trail running in remote paths.

The main exception would be the bamboo viper.

They are ambush predators. They keep very still and attack when the prey is at the perfect distance. Most of the venomous bites in Hong Kong are from this snake. Nevertheless, they are very infrequent. As most of our snakes, they are nocturnal. Even at night, with a good torch snakes should be able to see you afar and avoid biting.

What should you do if you or any hiking buddy of yours are bitten (really really unlikely)? Try to stay calm. The stats are in your favor. Most snakes are non-venomous or their venom is not a problem for humans. Even if you are bitten by one which is dangerous, it might be a “dry bite” (pretty high chances in Hong Kong). Nevertheless, the procedure should be the same in all cases: unless you are an expert consider it a venomous bite and try to get help immediately. Call to be rescued. Try to identify the snake. Remove any tight clothing and jewelry. Clean the bite gently with water (do not cut or try to suck the venom out) and wrap from the lower portion of the bitten limb upwards. You are not trying to tourniquet it, just bandage it snugly as you would do with a sprain. The venom does not travel through the blood, but the lymphatic system. Elastic bandage (the type you use for sprain ankles) and not moving have shown to be good to stop the spreading of the venom for hours. The only exception in Hong Kong would be bites of the aforementioned bamboo vipers; do not use the elastic band. Once in the hospital antivenom, etc will be provided. Here you can read a real case of a bamboo bit viper bite and its effects.

I highly recommend everyone to learn more about snakes. The more you know about them the less paranoic that you will be with them. For HK snake ID you can use this wonderful web. To be part of the community that cares about these animals, Hong Kong snakes Facebook group.

Wild boars:

They have been in the news a lot in recent years. People started to feed them and they are starting to be too comfortable near humans… Ten years ago seeing them was quite a surprise. Nowadays, as soon as I am trail running on weekdays, the chances of seeing them are pretty high, even around main paths…

Proceed with them exactly as with snakes. Let them space, an exit route and they will move on. Do not feed them! While outpath if you can see them, or hear them, and they do not want to move and are making strong sounds, most surely you are around their piglets and/or lair. Try to find a detour.

Wild dogs:

We have quite a few too. Some really wild, living on their own in nature. Some set on by owners trying to protect “their lands”, sometimes even into public paths… Try to avoid confrontation. If you can find a detour use it. If there is no other way that going around the area where they are, try to move slowly, hold a walking pole or stick on your hand and let them know you would use it. Not by threatening them, but convincing yourself that in case of need you will hit them. Your body will “smell” differently with aggressive or calm feelings vs you completely afraid. Your body language also will be perceived. Try to avoid eye contact.

Monkeys:

They are becoming more and more a nuisance. Again, mainly because of humans feeding them and the monkeys being more and more comfortable in our presence. In some areas, Shing Mun reservoir for example, they have become totally used to even steal food from hikers. I have once watched a fight between two “clans”. I guess trying to secure the best feeding spot, around the biggest BBQ area.

Beware of their nails and teeth. Try to avoid visual contact but hold your ground with, again, a stick or rocks on your hands.

Birds:

We have tons of different birds all around Hong Kong. The most common bigger ones being the black kites. I have only got an aggressive encounter once and still we do not know the reason. One of the aforementioned kites tried to attack me, diving from the sky onto my head while coasteering under Ocean Park.  Since I have been talking with some experts and even local ornithologist think is a very strange behaviour. Only owls and infrequently eagles tend to do this if you get around their nest.

Other big animals:

There are tons of other big inoffensive animals. Porcupines, barking deers, civets, tons of species of bats, turtles… A video with quite some of those.

I have not yet seen a pangolin. But yes almost all the others mentioned above including almost all the snake species and several very special encounters: almost extinguished turtles or a baby barking deer that allowed us to get really close to while coasteering.

Spiders:

Almost everyone you will find while hiking are nondangerous for humans. The most usual are the Golden Orb Weavers.

They can be massive. The female is the big one. Frequently you can see the male too in the spider web. Small reddish.

The more remote paths (streams, etc) you hike the more spiders you will find. But they are fast building their webs and therefore you might find them in main paths if you are an early riser.

If you can, just avoid the web. If not grab a stick or whatever and break one side. The spider will escape immediately. Nowadays I mostly don’t pay much attention to them. I know that if I’m hiking fast in a nice remote stream, I will most surely end up with some spider web on my clothes. A good additional reason to hike well covered.

Wasps:

These can be dangerous or at least painful. Be really careful if you see their nest.

They can be very aggressive if you get close to it. If they start attacking you, even if you feel sudden painful bites and you don’t know what it is… Run! Seriously. Move few meters away (10 or 20 may suffice) and they will stop chasing you.

Centipedes:

You will mostly see them if visiting any cave or tunnel, where they like to stay.

They are poisonous, but they will escape as fast as they can.

There are tons of other interesting small animals in Hong Kong: ants, butterflies, moths. For more information join the Hong Kong bugs Facebook page.

“Dangerous” plants:

Most of the little injuries while hiking tend to be with plants, not animals. The more jungle-like routes you attempt the wilder plants that you will encounter. Some are really easy to spot. These are clearly dangerous.

But some others might have their spikes or thorns more hidden but as painful.

Or some just as sharp as a blade. This type.

The more you hike the easier you will spot them. For some routes (less hiked streams) we bring full body cover (long sleeves, gloves, cap), pruning scissors, or even a machete-like knife to open our way.

There are tons of interesting plants too that I am starting to know better. Carnivore plants.

And others that you can forage. I will write about it in a future post.

Sea fish: You can see a ton of variety even if you are just swimming next to the big crowded beaches.

Further out I have seen even small sharks. A blacktip reef shark while coasteering between Repulse Bay and Chung Hom Kok. This kind of encounters are highly unlikely. Just enjoy them for the brief moment before they escape far from you. There has not been a shark attack in Hong Kong in decades. Decimated by over fishing, the last thing that sharks want is to be next to humans. There are fishermen, swimmers, divers all around daily in Hong Kong that would report any dangerous shark sighting. You better beware of waves, high cliffs, even ghost nets. Way more dangerous.