HONG KONG MAMMALS
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the populations of herbivores. These would increase until they in turn were checked by shortage of food. This may be only when most of the vegetation has been destroyed.
In Hong Kong we are losing our carnivores. There are no tigers, no leopards, no wolves, no wild dogs, no crab-eating mongooses, no five-banded civets, no badgers; and at the present rate of progress there will soon be no seven-banded or masked palm civets, no foxes, no ferret-badgers. When this happens there will be little to check the population of rats—only snakes and birds of prey which are also being markedly reduced in numbers.
Tons of insecticide could be put down to kill the insect pests, thousands of traps and tons of poison bait could be put down to kill the rats (this would also kill the birds). Unfortunately, even if insecticides, traps and poisons could be used in massive quantities, some insects and some rats would survive. It is impossible to kill all, or even 95% of any population by these methods and those that survive could be immune, so that new, stronger insecticides and poisons would be needed thereafter. In the meantime a great deal of damage would have been done to insect-eating birds, parasites of pests and even to man himself. Man is not immune to poisons or insecticides.
By far the best and most economical way to control animal pests is biological control.
What should be done, and has been advocated for a long time, is the setting aside of areas of land as National Parks or outdoor natural recreational areas and other areas as nature reserves where research can be carried out. In these areas indigenous animals that have become rare could be re-introduced. Research could be carried out into methods of maintaining a balanced community. With the right publicity, people could come to value the countryside and to enjoy and appreciate wild life.
There are a number of places suitable for these parks including water catchment areas. Taitam reservoir has a very beautiful catchment area which already many people visit to get away from the stresses of the city. To be able to see wild animals on walks adds something to life, and with scientific research and a proper understanding of what these wild animals do, the countryside of Hong Kong would become a more interesting place to visit. The Jubilee reservoir and Shek Pik reservoir areas could also be used.