XN000022-1984-12-21 — Page 19

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1984

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NEW CROWD-PULLERS AT ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS

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BIG CROWDS IN A HOLIDAY MOOD ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT THE ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AND ON SUNDAY TO SEE THE LATEST INTERESTING NEW ARRIVALS.

THESE COMPRISE SOME EXTREMELY RARE NEW BORN PRIMATES - INCLUDING A GOLDEN-HEADED LION TAMARIN (LEONTOPITHECUS CHRYSOMELAS) AND A RED-CHEEKED CRESTED GIBBON (HYLOBATES CONCOLOR GABRIELLAE). THE LION TAMAR IN MAY WELL BE THE FIRST CAPTIVE BIRTH OUTSIDE ITS NATIVE BRAZIL.

OTHER NEW BIRTHS THAT ADD TO THE ALREADY COLOURFUL MENGERIE OF PRIMATES ARE TWO COMMON MARMOSETS (CALLITHRIX JACCHUS), A CELEBES BLACK APE (CYNOPITHECUS NIGER) AND A BORNEAN ORANG-UTAN (PONGO PYGMAEUS PYGMAEUS).

IN ADDITION, A MALE RED-CROWNED CRANE (GRUS JAPONENSIS) AND A PAIR OF SHORT-BEAKED ECHIDNAS (TACHYGLOSSUS ACULEATUS) ARRIVED FROM THE PEKING ZOO AND THE ROYAL MELBOURNE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS RESPECTIVELY EARLY THIS MONTH.

ECHIDNAS ARE FASCINATING ANIMALS BELONGING TO THE ORDER MONOTREMATA, WHICH ARE EGG-LAYING MAMMALS. IN THE WILD, ECHIDNAS SUBSIST ENTIRELY ON ANTS AND OTHER INSECTS AND FOR THIS REASON THEY ARE ALSO KNOWN AS SPINY ANTEATERS.

INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS CONTINUES TO ENRICH THE SCOPE OF THE EXHIBITS IN THE GARDENS. SUCH BIRD AND MAMMAL EXCHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE WITH ZOOS AND BIRD COLLECTIONS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, GERMANY, SRI LANKA, INDONESIA, SINGAPORE, THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE USA AND SOUTH AFRICA.

THE GARDENS, HONG KONG'S OWN +NATURE'S CORNER+ IN A HIGHLY URBANISED CITY OF CONCRETE AND STEEL, AVERAGE SOME THREE MILLION VISITORS EACH YEAR.

LOCATED AT GARDEN ROAD, JUST ABOVE THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, IT OPENS FROM 6 A.M. TO 7 P.M. DAILY. ADMISSION IS FREE.

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