XN000022-1972-05-31 — Page 12

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Wednesday, May 31, 1972

BOTANIC GARDENS ZOO

Proposals For Phased Expansion Approved

Mr. A. de 0. Sales, Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select

Committee of Urban Council, announced today that his Committee had approved

proposals for a phased expansion of the Wild Mammals Exhibit in the Botanic

Gardens.

The detailed plans for this expansion, drawn up by the Curator of

Mammals, Mr. J.D. Romer, include two phases.

Phase 1 is to reprovision all of the existing cages by the building

of technically well-designed enclosures, attractively laid out to facilitate

viewing, and of adequate size for breeding groups of animals to increase

both the educational and conservation value of the exhibits.

There will be seven separate enclosures, two of them double to

accommodate two or more similar species.

"Not only will it be possible to establish larger (and consequently

more attractive) breeding groups of the animals already exhibited, but also to

exhibit several additional species," said Mr. Sales.

He said it is not yet known how soon the work will commence, but

this first phase of the expansion might take two years to complete,

Phase 2 is to provide a special enclosure with a view to establishing

a small breeding group of Orang-utans. Mr. Sales said his Committee had approved

the preparation of technical plans for this project.

Note to editors:

Copies of a sketch plan on the phased expansion of the Botanic Gardens Zoo are distributed separately in the G.I.S. Press Boxes this evening.

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