SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1985
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ZOO'S CONTINUING PRIORITY ON BREEDING, CONSERVATION
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HONG KONG'S SMALL BUT INTERNATIONALLY ESTEEMED ZOO, THE ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS, IS TO CONTINUE TO MAKE ANIMAL CONSERVATION ITS MAIN PRIORITY IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
THIS IS MADE CLEAR IN THE URBAN COUNCIL'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1984/85, NEWLY PUBLISHED UNDER THE TITLE OF +INCOMPARABLE HONG KONG+.
THE SECTION ON THE 200, WHICH RECALLS THE GREAT SUCCESSES ACHIEVED IN RECENT YEARS IN REARING THE YOUNG OF THREATENED SPECIES, ADDS: +WITH NO SPACE FOR ANY MAJOR NEW EXHIBITS AVAILABLE, FUTURE EFFORTS WILL BE CONCENTRATED ON THE BREEDING OF RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES IN CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS OVERSEAS.+
DURING THE YEAR, THE REPORT STATES, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SUCCESS IN THE BIRD COLLECTION WAS THE REARING
THE OF 12 YOUNG WHITE-WINGED WOOD DUCK. IN ADDITION, BREEDING OF PALAWAN PEACOCK PHEASANTS CONTINUED.
+OVER 300 OF THESE RARE PHEASANTS HAVE NOW BEEN BRED IN THE GARDENS AND SENT TO 39 ZOOS AND BIRD COLLECTIONS IN 21 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. IT IS GENERALLY RECOGNISED THAT THE HONG KONG BIRDS ARE LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURING A VIABLE CAPTIVE POPULATIONS OF THIS VULNERABLE SPECIES,+ THE REPORT SAYS.
THESE BREEDING ACHIEVEMENTS ARE UNDERLINED BY A MEMORABLE PHOTOGRAPH IN THE ANNUAL REPORT SHOWING A BABY ORANG-UTAN, BORN DURING THE YEAR, IN HIS MOTHER'S ARMS. PICTURE IS ONE OF MORE THAN 60 FULL-COLOUR PHOTOS IN THE NEW-STYLE REPORT.
THE
ANOTHER EQUALLY STRIKING PICTURE USED TO ILLUSTRATE THE RECREATION AND SPORT PART OF THE REPORT IS ONE TAKEN AT THE HONG KONG COLISEUM DURING A SPECTACULAR DISPLAY OF FIGURE SKATING ON ICE.
+ INCOMPARABLE HONG KONG+, SUB-TITLED +A CITY WITH FAITH IN ITS FUTURE+, IS ON SALE AT LEADING BOOKSHOPS AND AT THE URBAN COUNCIL BOOKSHOPS IN THE CITY HALL AND THE KOWLOON CENTRAL LIBRARY AS WELL AS THE UC PUBLICATIONS CENTRE IN ICE HOUSE STREET. IT IS PRICED AT $15 -- A PRICE WHICH HAS BEEN DELIBERATELY KEPT LOW AS A MATTER OF COUNCIL POLICY.
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