ENG-1962 — Page 385

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Natural History

HONG KONG's small land area means that the nature lover need never be far from the countryside. On Hong Kong Island a drive of 30 minutes or less is sufficient to reach the Tai Tam Reservoir catchment area where there are many miles of interesting walks, or the hills above Shek O where every crest commands a sweeping view. In the New Territories there are many areas less than an hour's drive from Kowloon containing wide varieties of tropical flora and tropical or sub-tropical fauna. The islands, most of which can be reached by ferry, also contain much of interest to the naturalist, while the waters which surround them abound in marine life.

Mammals. Partly due to the post-war development of Hong Kong and partly to the rapid expansion of the population several species of the Colony's wild mammals are, unfortunately, continu- ally decreasing in numbers. Among the mammals which have long been extremely rare are the South China Tiger, Leopard, Dhole or Indian Wild Dog, South China Red Fox, Crab-eating Mongoose, and Large Chinese Civet. It is probable that most, if not all, of these animals have now finally disappeared from the Colony. The last undoubted visit of a large feline to Hong Kong from southern China was in 1957, when a leopard which had been seen in the New Territories killed a number of domestic animals. Others, which from lack of recent records must now be regarded as rare, are the small Chinese Leopard Cat and the primitive Chinese Pangolin or Scaly Ant-eater. It is unfortunate that several species (e.g., certain civets, wild cats, deer, pangolins and porcupines) are locally valued as food or for medicinal

purposes.

Monkeys may still be found in small numbers, with very localized distribution. Those which in recent years inhabited the Tai Tam area of Hong Kong Island are not known to have been seen during 1962, although the monkeys living in the woods in