SUNDAY, JULY 7, 1974
MINI-ZOO BEING EXPANDED
HONG KONG'S MINI-ZOO AT THE BOTANIC GARDENS IS UNDERGOING MAJOR EXTENSION WORKS TO PROVIDE LARGER AND BETTER HOMES FOR THE WILD MAMMALS AND BIRDS ON EXHIBIT.
UNDER THE $600,000 PROJECT, THE HOMES FOR WILD MAMMALS ARE BEING MADE TEN TIMES LARGER THAN THEY ARE NOW, WHILE THE AVIARY VILL BE TUICE ITS PRESENT SIZE.
ALTOGETHER, TEN INDIVIDUAL ENCLOSURES FOR WILD MAMMALS HAVE BEEN BUILT AND SOME OF THE 31. HAI #LS, INCLUDING A BOUNCING BABY APE, HAVE ALREADY MOVED INTO THEIR NEW KOHES.
UHEN ALL OF THEM HAVE MOVED, THE OLD CAGES WILL BE CONVERTED INTO A BREEDING AND EXHIBITION AREA FOR ASIATIC BLACK BEARS. THIS WILL PROBABLY MAKE THE HOTHER DEAR HAPPY BECAUSE SHE HAS LOST ALL FOUR OF HER BABIES SO FAR, THE REASON BEING LACK OF SPACE FOR HER TO BE ISOLATED DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY.
ACCORDING TO THE CURATOR, MR. JOHN ROMER, THE EXTENSION ALSO PROVIDES ROOM FOR MORE ANIMALS TO CE KEPT THERE IN FUTURE. NEW ADDITIONS MAY INCLUDE MARMOSETS, DIANA MONKEYS, GIBBONS AND CELEBES APES.
EXTENSION WORK ON THE AVIARY, TO MAKE IT TWICE AS BIG AS NOW, IS ALSO IN AN ADVANCED STAGE.
THE WORK MAINLY INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN OPEN
THIS WILL ENABLE ENCLOSURE ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING CAGES. THE PRESENT COLLECTION OF FLAMINGOES, CRANES AND WATERFOWL TO BE
INCREASED.
THE HONOURARY CURATOR OF THE AVIARY, DR. KENNETH SEARLE, SAID A LOT OF THE WORK WOULD BE DEVOTED TO DECORATING THE NEW . ENCLOSURE WITH FLOWERS AND TREES. THIS WILL INCLUDE A LILY POND.
AT PRESENT, THE AVIARY HOUSES ABOUT 700 BIRDS OF OVER 300 SPECIES.
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