WERNESDAY, JEN 18,
THE FORMER RANGE OF THE WHITE-WINGED WOOD DUCK WAS FROM ASSAM AND BURMA THROUGH THA ILAND AND INDO-CHINA TO SUMATRA AND JAWA (FORMERLY JAVA). THE WHOLESALE FELLING OF THE PLAINS RAINFOREST, COMBINED WITH OVER-HUNTING, HAS CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC DECLINE IN NUMBERS AND THIS SPECIES IS NOW EXTINCT IN MANY AREAS WHERE IT USED TO OCCUR.
THE ORIGINAL STOCK FOR THE CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAMME WAS OBTAINED IN ASSAM IN THE LATE 1960S BY NATURALIST SAM MACKENZIE, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF PROJECT 406. REAL IS ING THAT THE DUCKS WERE GRADUALLY DISAPPEARING FROM THE FOREST AROUND HIS HOME, HE DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION TO PRESERVE THEN
WITH THE PERMISSION AND SUPPORT OF THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT HE STARTED COLLECTING WHITE-WINGED WOOD DUCKS FOR THE PROGRAMME. THIS WAS NOT EASY, AS THEY ARE SHY AND LARGELY NOCTURNAL IN THE IR HABITS, BUT LOCAL FISHERMEN RESPONDED TO MR MACKENZIE'S REQUEST FOR SPIRIT DUCKS+. EVENTUALLY HE OBTAINED TWO BROODS OF DUCKLINGS. HAND-REARED BY HIS WIFE AND SENT TO THE WILDFOWL TRUST IN ENGLAND, WHICH IS CO-ORDINATING PROJECT 406.
AND THESE WERE
WHITE-WINGED WOOD DUCKS RAISED AT THE TRUST ARE PLACED ON BREEDING LOAN WITH SUITABLE ZOOS AND BIRD COLLECTIONS. INCLUDING THE H.K.Z.B.G. SIR PETER SCOTT, HONORARY DIRECTOR OF THE WILDFOWL TRUST, VISITED HONG KONG LAST MONTH AND SAW THE YOUNG DUCKS AWAITING SHIPMENT.
THIS IS HONG KONG'S SECOND MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROJECT. LAST YEAR 12 YOUNG DUCKS BRED HERE WERE SENT TO THAILAND TO JOIN A BREEDING PROGRAMME UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE KINGDOM'S ROYAL FOREST DEPARTMENT.
COURTESY CALL BY TUNG WAH DIRECTORS *****
MEMBERS OF THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP HOSPITALS THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON PAID A COURTESY CALL ON TE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, TO DISCUSS WELFARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GROUP.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP, MR ROBERT CHAN, OUTLINED THE GROUPAS NEW PROJECTS FOR THE COMING YEAR. THESE INCLUDED HOSTELS FOR THE ELDERLY IN SUN CHUI ESTATE IN SHA TIN, CHEUNG WAH ESTATE IN FANLING AND LI CHENG UK ESTATE IN SHAM SHUI PO- A CARE AND ATTENTION: HOME FOR THE ELDERLY IN YIU ON ESTATE IN MA ON SHAN AND A MULTI-SERVICES: CENTRE IN SHA KOK ESTÁTE IN SHA TIN!
MRS CHAN COMMENDED THE GROUP FOR PROVIDING VARIOUS SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS AND ASSURED BOARD MEMBERS THAT HER DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM SUPPORT.
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