Suspension of Ocean Park Hong Kong App (Effective 1 July 2026)Closure of "North Pole Encounter" for RenovationArrangements for unused admission ticket, car park reservation, and Ocean FasTrack dated 26 July 2026

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Whitetip Reef Sharks | Ocean Park Hong Kong

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Animals & Plants
Whitetip Reef Sharks

Fish

Whitetip Reef Sharks

Scientific Name

Triaenodon obesus

Other Common Name(s)

Whitetip Shark, Light-tip Shark

Body Weight

Up to 28 kg

Body Length

Up to 2 m

Silhouette of a shark swimming above a diver.

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

Habitat

Ocean

Diet

Fish, crustaceans and cephalopods such as squid

Fun Facts

Coral reefs often form a rough surface with a lot of long projections and sharp edges. Whitetip reef sharks have a slender body, tough skin and manoeuvrable pectoral fins to adapt to this habitat.
Whitetip reef sharks are not territorial. They often rest together in caves during the day. They also share their reef habitats with other sharks such as blacktip reef sharks and grey reef sharks.

Whitetip reef shark swimming in blue water over a rocky seafloor.

Close-up side view of a shark's head with an open mouth and visible teeth.

Distribution

Tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, including the waters of countries such as China, Australia, Somalia, Panama. Native to Hong Kong.

Threats & Conservation

Threats & Conservation

Threats

Urbanisation & Infrastructure
Overexploitation of Biological Resources
Human Disturbance & Ecosystem Disruption
Climate Change

There is heavy fishing pressure in coastal waters. Whitetip reef sharks are caught and consumed for their meat and liver. While they were once very common in coral reefs, their numbers have dropped due to fisheries. These sharks are the top predators in the reefs and therefore serve an important role in balancing ecosystems. Their decline may bring a breakdown of the food web.

Conservation

IUCN Red List banner with 'Vulnerable' highlighted, showing conservation statuses EW, CR, EN, VU, NT, LC, DD.

IUCN Red List

Vulnerable

CITES

Appendix II

Conservation Regulations

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

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Come and see our animals and plants

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A group of adults and children look up at a giant manta ray, sharks, and fish swimming in a large aquarium tank.

The Grand Aquarium

Aqua City | Waterfront

A shark swims in deep blue water, mouth slightly open.

A shark swims in deep blue water, mouth slightly open.

Shark Mystique

Marine World | Summit

Fun Activities

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Animal Programme

Learn More

Explore more animals & plants

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Mammals

Giant Panda

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Reptiles

Aldabra Giant Tortoise

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Mammals

Asian Small-clawed Otter