To enhance public understanding and appreciation of all living creatures, the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (HKZBG) managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has all along been committed to enriching the variety of species of animals and plants in the gardens. Recently, meerkats, which are familiar faces from animation and movies, have joined as newcomers to the HKZBG's family.

     The two female meerkats introduced to the HKZBG are aged 4 and 5 and are housed in the newly decorated Meerkat's Home. Meerkats usually live in dry and open plains, and the long and slender body is covered in a soft silvery brown coat, with the tail dark-tipped. Feeding primarily on insects, meerkats are carnivorous and also highly social by nature. The long forefeet and strong claws enable them to dig burrows.

     When some members of a meerkat colony forage for food, the others will act as sentries and stand up on their hind legs to watch out for predatory birds such as hawks and eagles. If a threat is detected, these sentries will bark to alert the group, who will retreat to burrows or run for cover.

     After visiting the meerkats and other animals and plants in the gardens, park-goers who wish to explore more on natural habitats can follow the newly erected bird-shaped signboards to the nearby Hong Kong Park (HKP), where they can watch the birds at the Edward Youde Aviary or view the plant collections at the Forsgate Conservatory.

     The HKZBG and HKP are in the vicinity of each other and within walking distance from the heart of the central business district of Hong Kong. The HKZBG is home to about 220 birds, 70 mammals and 20 reptiles while around 600 birds of 70 different species are housed in HKP's Edward Youde Aviary.

     Recently, directional signboards have been placed at the two parks, showing members of the public the routes between the two parks so as to encourage park-goers to visit both parks for enjoyment. The star animals and birds in the two parks have been chosen for the new signboard designs.

     The signboards erected in the HKZBG feature die-cut images of birds, including the colourful rainbow lorikeet and the great pied hornbill, leading the way to HKP, while the ones in HKP have die-cut images of the active and well-received Bornean orang-utan and the black and white ruffed lemur from the primates family pointing out the direction to the HKZBG. These signboards are now placed in different locations to ensure that park-goers can find the best and the shortest routes between the two parks.

     For enquiries, please call 2530 0154 (HKZBG) or 2521 5041 (HKP).

Ends/Friday, December 23, 2016
Issued at HKT 12:48

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