26
Natural History
BECAUSE of Hong Kong's small area, the nature lover need never be far from the countryside. On Hong Kong Island, a drive of 30 minutes or less is sufficient to reach the Tai Tam Reservoir catch- ment area where there are many miles of interesting walks, or the hills above Shek O all of which command a sweeping view. In the New Territories and less than one hour's drive from Kowloon, there are many areas which contain varieties of tropical flora and tropical or sub-tropical fauna. Most of the islands can be reached by ferry and these too contain much of interest to the naturalist, while the waters which surround the islands abound in marine life.
Mammals. Due to the rapid post-war development and expan- sion of the population of Hong Kong, several species of the Colony's wild mammals are, unfortunately, decreasing in numbers. Among the rare mammals are the South China Tiger, Leopard, Dhole or Indian Wild Dog, South China Red Fox, Crab-eating Mongoose and Large Chinese Civet. It is probable that most of these animals have now disappeared from the Colony. The last confirmed visit of a large feline to Hong Kong from south China was in 1957, when a leopard killed a number of domestic animals in the New Territories. Others, which must now be regarded as rare, are the small Chinese Leopard Cat and the primitive Chinese Pangolin or Scaly Ant-eater. It is unfortunate that several species of civets, wild cats, deer, pangolins and porcupines are locally valued as food or for medicinal purposes.
Monkeys are found in small numbers in the Tai Tam area of Hong Kong Island and in the woods near Kowloon Reservoir. They may be descendants of released or escaped specimens and it is possible that those in the Tai Tam area are survivors of the indigenous Rhesus Monkeys which less than a hundred years ago inhabited most of the small islands about Hong Kong. Another indigenous mammal is the small Chinese Ferret-Badger, seldom seen on account of its shy nocturnal habits, which lives in the Peak