The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, the 5.6-hectare green lung overlooking Central District, is a conservation centre for 13 endangered species of mammals, birds and reptiles. The zoo is home to about 370 birds of 80 species, of which more than 15 have reared offspring.
 |
|
With their orange crowns and foreheads ringed in white, the adorable De Brazza's monkeys in the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens are very popular with visitors. |
|
There are 60 mammals of 15 species, mainly primates. In July 2011, for the first time in Hong Kong, a pair of Bornean orangutan twins was born at the zoo, raising their number there to five. Vandu, the father, came from Hungary’s Sosto Zoo in 2010 through a conservation breeding programme. Raba, their mother, was born in the gardens in 1996.
 |
|
In July 2011, the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens celebrated the birth of a pair of Bornean orangutans. It was the first successful breeding of Bornean orangutan twins in Hong Kong. |
|
Trees, shrubs, creepers and foliage of more than 900 species thrive in the gardens. A herb garden was established in 1986 and a greenhouse in 1993. They have about 500 species of herbs, orchids, ferns, bromeliads, and carnivorous and indoor plants.
An education and exhibition centre, completed in 2008, displays botanical and zoological specimens, and offers teaching facilities and guided visits.
Hong Kong Park, Kowloon Park, Tuen Mun Park and Yuen Long Park also feature zoological specimens.
We have introduced a number of zoological and horticultural education programmes to raise public interest in conservation and green issues. Around 21 000 people participated in 418 zoological programmes in 2011-12, and more than 22 600 in 422 horticultural programmes. Some 564 education programmes were organised for around 18 500 students.
During the year, the zoological and horticultural education exhibitions at Kowloon Park attracted about 8 200 and 9 000 visitors respectively. Roving exhibitions were held at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Hong Kong Park, Kowloon Park, Tai Po Waterfront Park, Tuen Mun Park, North District Park and Lai Chi Kok Park, while 12 courses educated the public on conservation. The encouraging feedback attests to the success of these programmes.
 |
|
Visitors to Hong Kong Park can enjoy a variety of beautiful orchids at the conservatory. |
|
The department is responsible for the management and maintenance of about 500 000 trees, including 468 old and valuable trees, in parks, tree pits and roadside landscaped areas.
Since May 2010, the department has implemented a new and strengthened tree management manpower structure, setting up six regional tree teams, so as to carry out tree management work more systematically and effectively. In 2011-12, the department continued to make regular inspections on the trees under its care and carried out tree maintenance/trimming work on about 70 000 trees.
 |
|
Staff practice tree pruning during a training course. |
|
About 2 400 trees were planted under the department’s tree-planting programme in 2011-12, mostly during the rainy season (March to October) so as to ensure stable growth.
About 63 per cent of these trees were planted in the New Territories, with the remainder in urban areas, including 1 000 along roadsides and 1 400 in parks and gardens. Apart from serving the functional purposes such as shade, screening, soil protection and conservation, tree planting also greens and beautifies the environment.
In 2011-12, we planted about 600 flowering trees, including Bauhinia blakeana, Bauhinia variegata, Lagerstroemia speciosa and Tabebuia chrysantha, which have brighter seasonal colours.
Together with the Home Affairs Bureau and Architectural Services Department (Arch SD), the LCSD participated in the 2011 Xi'an International Horiticultural Exposition from April 28 to October 22, 2011. While the Arch SD designed and constructed the 716-square-metre garden, the LCSD planted and maintained seasonal flowers to beautify the garden, which was well received by visitors.
 |
|
The Hong Kong Garden at the International Horticultural Exposition 2011 in Xi'an. |
|
As the department responsible for improving the urban environment and landscape in general, we research the latest horticultural and arboricultural practices to update our policies and guidelines. We also periodically review our practices to maintain high standards of management and maintenance of community amenities.
As part of the programme to make Hong Kong greener, we closely monitor planting programmes in all districts, with the emphasis on preserving existing trees and nurturing new ones, including those planted on development sites. During the year, we successfully preserved more than 1 300 trees.
The department is also responsible for vetting the landscaping of all new public works projects to ensure maximum planting and high-quality landscape work. In 2011-12, the department made landscape improvements on more than 20 hectares of existing venues, vacant government land and roadside amenities.
