Suspension of Ocean Park Hong Kong App (Effective 1 July 2026)Closure of "North Pole Encounter" for Renovation
Decorative imageDecorative image
Careers
Decorative imageDecorative image
Contact Us
Decorative imageDecorative image
Members Login
Stylized logo of blue mountains, water, and an orange crescent.Stylized logo of blue mountains, water, and an orange crescent.
Water World
Blue seahorse logo with waves in a white circleBlue seahorse logo with waves in a white circle
Ocean Park Corporation
Ocean Park Hong Kong logo featuring a seal mascot splashing water and the Chinese text 香港海洋公園.Ocean Park Hong Kong logo featuring a seal mascot splashing water and the Chinese text 香港海洋公園.
Ticket & OfferA Day at the ParkPark InformationAnnual Membership Conservation & EducationPlan Your Events
Buy Ticket

  • Homepage
  • Conservation & Education
  • Animals & Plants
  • Beale's Eyed Turtle
Reptiles

Beale's Eyed Turtle

Scientific Name

Sacalia bealei

Other Common Name(s)

Eye-spotted Turtle, Beal's-eyed Turtle

Body Weight

Up to 400 g

Body Length

Carapace: up to 18 cm

Silhouette of a small turtle next to a human hand for size comparison.
A turtle with a patterned shell and head on a rocky surface.

Habitat

Streams and the forests nearby
River flowing through mountains
Two green trees and small bushes.

Diet

Insects, fruits and seeds
A tarantula, a ladybug, and a centipede.
A plant with red fruits growing from soil, surrounded by orange and yellow flowers.

Fun Facts

  • Beale's eyed turtles have eye-like spots behind their heads that can confuse predators. These eye spots are more prominent in females than in males.

  • After eating fruit, Beale's eyed turtles help forests near riverbanks thrive by dispersing seeds through their droppings.

Small turtle with a dark, shiny shell partially hiding its head on wood chips and leaves.
Close-up of a turtle with a dark patterned head and shell, among rocks underwater.

Distribution

Southeast China, including Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Anhui, Guizhou, and Jiangxi. Native to Hong Kong.

Threats & Conservation

Threats & Conservation

Threats

  • Stylized city buildings on a roadStylized city buildings on a road

    Urbanisation & Infrastructure

  • An axe and a hexagonal grid with red dotsAn axe and a hexagonal grid with red dots

    Overexploitation of Biological Resources

  • Different types of microbesDifferent types of microbes

    Invasive Species & Diseases

  • Factory with smokestack emitting smokeFactory with smokestack emitting smoke

    Pollution

Experts estimate that fewer than 100 adult Beale's eyed turtles remain in the wild in Hong Kong, yet this may already be one of the last surviving populations in Southern China. Not only are the habitats of local freshwater turtles being destroyed by human activities, but they are also targeted by poachers who use illegal traps to capture them for the pet trade. Furthermore, other turtles abandoned by citizens in the wild in Hong Kong include many invasive species that compete for resources with local freshwater turtles.

Conservation

IUCN Red List categories. Red banner: 'Endangered Species Red List', 'Endangered'. Circles for EW, CR, EN, VU, NT, LC, DD, with EN highlighted.
CITES logo and text Appendix II

IUCN Red List

  • Endangered

Red List of China's Biodiversity

  • Critically Endangered

CITES

  • Appendix II

Conservation Regulations​

  • Chinese Wildlife Conservation Law: Category 2

  • Protected under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170) and the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong

Ocean Park's Conservation Efforts

The Park has been breeding this endangered species since 2018 with the goal of eventually releasing them into the wild to help restore their populations. Furthermore, the Park hosted the Planning Workshop for the Integrated Conservation of the Beale's Eyed Turtle in 2024 and the 1st International Conference on Integrated Conservation of Asian Turtles in 2026, inviting experts to discuss future conservation strategies for the Beale's Eyed Turtles and other freshwater turtles.

Animal Breeding in Ocean Park

Learn More
A small turtle held in two hands, looking forward.

Support Mission R to protect animals & plants!

Saving Species & Habitats

Learn More
Panoramic view of a blue bay, green hills, and islands under a bright blue sky with white clouds.

Plastic Challenge

Learn More
Plastic bottles and styrofoam containers float in polluted water.

Come and see our animals and plants

A brown crab with prominent eyes and claws, partially visible behind blurred foreground elements, sits on rocks underwater.A brown crab with prominent eyes and claws, partially visible behind blurred foreground elements, sits on rocks underwater.
icon-green.webp
0 mins

Dive Into Local Diversity

Amazing Asian Animals | The Waterfront

Explore more animals & plants

A shark with a white-tipped dorsal fin swims forward in dark water with other sharks and coral.

Fish

Whitetip Reef Sharks

Stingray swimming underwater, facing forward with its underside visible.

Fish

Cownose Ray

Shark swimming in deep blue ocean with mouth slightly open.

Fish

Ragged Tooth Shark

Ocean Park Hong Kong logo featuring a seal mascot splashing water and the Chinese text 香港海洋公園.

Secure your membership today and embark on an extraordinary journey like no other! Join now

ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS & AQUARIUMSACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS & AQUARIUMS
World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) logo, featuring a grey elephant and a blue fish, with text 'WAZA | United for Conservation'.World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) logo, featuring a grey elephant and a blue fish, with text 'WAZA | United for Conservation'.
Blue logo with white text "GLOBAL HUMANE CERTIFIED ZOOS & AQUARIUMS" and animal silhouettes.Blue logo with white text "GLOBAL HUMANE CERTIFIED ZOOS & AQUARIUMS" and animal silhouettes.
Accredited by the ALLIANCE of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums logoAccredited by the ALLIANCE of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums logo
Gold icon with "Accredited Attraction" and "cr" textGold icon with "Accredited Attraction" and "cr" text

Tickets and Offers

Admission Ticket & Special OffersOcean FasTrackGroup Ticket

A Day at the Park

Latest EventsAttractionsDining & ShoppingGet Closer to the AnimalsFamily Fun ActivitiesHotelsRecommended ItinerariesPanda Zone

Park Information

Park CalendarGetting HereGuest ServicesPark Notices

Annual Membership

Ocean Park Annual MembershipMembership TiersMember PrivilegesCurrent MembersTicket Conversion

Conservation & Education

ConservationEducation

Plan Your Event

Corporate Events and ChartersPersonal Celebrations
FAQ
Press ReleasePark Rules and RegulationsWebsite Use & Access AgreementPersonal Information Collection StatementPrivacy Policy StatementTender Notices

Copyright © 2026 Ocean Park Hong Kong. All rights reserved.

Ocean Park Corporation is a charitable institution registered with Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (File No: 91/2801).

Ocean Park Hong Kong, 180 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong | Tel: (852) 3923 2323 | Fax: (852) 2873 5584

Ocean Park channel

facebook.svgfacebook.svg
instagram.svginstagram.svg
weibo.svgweibo.svg
rednote.svgrednote.svg
youtube.svgyoutube.svg
tiktok.svgtiktok.svg
tripadvisor.svgtripadvisor.svg

Panda channel

instagram.svginstagram.svg
rednote.svgrednote.svg
tiktok.svgtiktok.svg