Around 200 Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins - commonly called Chinese white dolphins - survive in Hong Kong's western waters near the Chek Lap Kok international airport on Lantau Island. While the resident population of these cetaceans has remained steady over the past decade, pressure to expand capacity at Hong Kong's bustling aviation hub may pose a serious threat. Colleagues in the area have said the proposed third runway is quite close to some important habitats so that will further bring some disturbance to the dolphin population. Besides extensive reclamation for the runway, Hong Kong plans other major engineering projects in prime dolphin habitat, including a monumental 30- 19-mile bridge link to neighbouring Macau and a new town project on Lantau. Any additional projects could be disastrous for these marine mammals.

The population along the Chinese coast is unique in that they exhibit a pink-coloured skin. This colour of the skin is not a result of colour pigmentation, but is actually from blood vessels used for thermoregulation to prevent overheating during exertion.

Chinese White Dolphins are quite sociable creatures and usually live in small groups of three to four. Females become mature at ten years old while the males become mature at thirteen. They are territorial animals and rarely stray far away from their habitat which is part of the reason the water pollution in Hong Kong has a high impact on them. Overfishing and heavy boat traffic near northern Lantau also threatens the lives of the dolphins.