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NATURAL HISTORY
Orchid, the Yellow Buttercup Orchid, the Pink Bamboo Orchid and the Purple Lady's Slipper Orchid.
Under the Forests and Countryside Ordinance, special protection is given to certain plants including camellias, magnolias, orchids, azaleas and the Chinese New Year Flower.
The Zoological and Botanical Gardens under the management of the Urban Council were established, as the Botanic Gardens, in about 1871. At the main entrance is the granite memorial gate erected by the Imperial War Graves Commission to commemorate all Chinese who died through enemy action during the years 1914-8 and 1939-45 in the services of the British Government.
Several Aleurites moluccana trees grown on both sides along the steps give excellent shade in summer months. Along the path which leads up from the memorial gate, rows of flamboyant Delonix regia trees provide masses of brilliant red flowers in early summer.-
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The layout of the 17-acre gardens is strictly formal, with wide paths, pavilions flower beds and a central fountain. Not far from the main entrance there is a plant house where tropical, shade-loving plants are cultivated, and on the lawns and grass slopes many trees and flowering shrubs are planted.
The zoological exhibits in the gardens include both mammals and birds. Replace- ment of the 20-year-old mammal cages was completed early in 1975 with the construc- tion of 10 new exhibition units-all technically well designed and of adequate size for both display and breeding purposes. Mammals exhibited include apes, monkeys, lemurs, bears, squirrels and porcupines. The bird collection is among the best in the Far East, having some 800 specimens representing more than 300 species from most parts of the world. Of particular interest is the rare Palawan Peacock Pheasant, which is in danger of becoming extinct. More than 125 have been bred in these gardens during the past 10 years.
The Hong Kong Herbarium, established in 1878, contains an important collection of about 32,200 plant specimens. It includes all the known 1,900 indigenous species and varieties, some 600 exotic species and varieties, and some 2,500 related species from adjacent regions of East and Southeast Asia. The herbarium is situated at the headquarters of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department in the Canton Road Government Offices in Kowloon, and it is open to the public.