ENG-1971 — Page 301

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Natural History

THE rapid development of the urban areas in the past decade or so has made further inroads into the countryside but, in spite of this, large areas of the Colony, especially in the New Territories, are still virtually untouched with wooded hillsides and valleys and green fields. It is here that the animal and plant life of Hong Kong can be found.

The Government's increasing concern with the protection of the environment has been demonstrated both by legislation and by the activities of its conservation staff. The two Advisory Committees for Recreational Development and Nature Conservation, which were created in September 1970, met frequently during the year and have each submitted preliminary reports. One deals with Hong Kong Island and the other the New Territories. The law was also amended to provide greater protection of local fauna. Among other measures, the number and areas of protected localities were increased. The hunting of birds and wild mammals, other than rodents, is prohibited in these areas and in certain localities there are additional restric- tions on the carrying of firearms.

WILD LIFE

With increased urbanisation and greater use of the countryside by an urban population many wild animals, particularly mammals, are declining in numbers. Indigenous mammals which no longer occur are the Crab-Eating Mongoose, the Wild Red Dog or Dhole, the Tiger and the Leopard. The last definite record of a Tiger was in 1947 and the last recorded sighting of a Leopard in 1957. The Eastern Chinese Otter, once abundant, is now a rare visitor, and of the carnivores, the South China Red Fox and the Chinese Leopard Cat have all but disappeared from the Colony.

The Barking Deer and the Wild Pig were once plentiful all over the Colony. Both are now rare in the New Territories and the remaining Barking Deer on Hong Kong Island are confined to a few areas, particularly the forests about the Peak.

Of the larger indigenous mammals, the Chinese Pangolin (Scaly Anteater) which grows to three-and-a-half feet and is protected by