ENG-1995 — Page 463

THE ENVIRONMENT

wildlife and are essential in the management of water catchments and in providing recreational opportunities for the public.

Remnants of the original forest cover, either scrub forest or well-developed woodlands, are still found in steep ravines. They have survived the destructive influences of man through their location in precipitous topography and the moist winter micro-climate.

Terrestrial Fauna

Hong Kong's physical and climatic environment provides woody and grassy habitats for a wide variety of animal and plant life. Under the pressures of urbanisation, larger animal species are rarely seen, but reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects are still

common.

The Mai Po Marshes form one of the most important wildlife conservation sites in Hong Kong. A restricted area under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance and managed jointly by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department and the World Wide Fund for Nature (Hong Kong). Together with the Inner Deep Bay area, the Mai Po Marshes were listed as a "Wetland of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat” under the Ramsar Convention in September 1995. Some 835 hectares of mudflats, shrimp ponds and dwarf mangroves provide a rich habitat, particularly for migratory and resident birds as well as ducks and waders. Some 300 species of birds have been observed in this area, and at least 110 of them are rarely seen elsewhere in the territory. Yim Tso Ha, also a restricted area, is the largest egretry in Hong Kong.

The traditional fung shui woods near old villages and temples have provided an important habitat for many birds. Sightings in wooded areas include warblers, flycatchers, robins, bulbuls and tits.

Areas around the Kowloon reservoirs are inhabited by monkeys descended from animals which had been released or had escaped from captivity. There are breeding groups of long-tailed macaques, rhesus monkeys and their hybrids. Smaller mammals are common, with the woodland shrew, house shrew and bats prevalent in some rural areas. The Chinese porcupine, with its strikingly-coloured black and white quills, is still present in parts of the New Territories and Hong Kong Island.

Occasional sightings are reported of less common species such as the leopard cat, civet cat, ferret badger, pangolin and barking deer. Wild boar occasionally damage farm crops in remote areas. Snakes, lizards and frogs are plentiful and there are various species of terrapins and turtles.

The territory has more than 200 recorded species and forms of butterflies. One of them, the birdwing butterfly (Troides helena) is endangered and protected by the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance and the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance. Among the many local moths are the giant silkworm moths, including the cythia, fawn, atlas and moon. The atlas has an average wing span of 23 centimetres and the moon, 18 centimetres. Dragonflies and damselflies are also common, as are wasps and metallic-coloured beetles.

Aquatic Fauna

Hong Kong is in the Oriental Region and despite cool winters has a fauna dominated by tropical species. It has a very high diversity of fish, crustacea and molluscs, of

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