Hong Kong exotic pet expo host charged with illegal possession of endangered species

Alvin Wong Ho-hin, the owner of Nature Herpetology Education in Hong Kong, faces charges for the illegal possession of endangered species. The case stems from an incident in 2022 when officers from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) confiscated several live endangered animals during an exhibition at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The seized wildlife included a green iguana, a Spencer’s monitor lizard (which is a protected species in Australia and banned from commercial trade in Hong Kong), and a golden coin turtle. An African grey parrot, also listed as endangered, was found taxidermied.

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Spencer’s monitors are banned from commercial trade in Hong Kong.

Wong, who operates a reptile education center that conducts school outreach programs, was charged in August under suspicion of illegally possessing a live Spencer’s monitor and a taxidermied African grey parrot. He was scheduled to appear in Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on August 4 but did not attend. A representative from his company stated that Wong was absent due to Type A influenza.

Nature Herpetology Education is currently co-hosting the Exotic Pets World expo, an event aimed at children, at the Hopewell Mall in Wan Chai. Wong has a prior connection to animal welfare, having previously worked for the local charity HK Herp. He resigned from HK Herp in January 2018, shortly after the organization reported that several animals, including endangered species, had been stolen from its facility.

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A 29-year-old local man was charged in August under suspicion of illegally possessing a live Spencer’s monitor and a taxidermied African grey parrot.