Miscellany

Mai Po Ramsar status confirmed

Illegal trapping

Mai Po Ramsar status confirmed

In 1997 the Ramsar Bureau received a letter from the Ministry of Forestry (the authority administering the Ramsar Convention in China) confirming that, as of 1 July 1997, Mai Po Marshes and Inner Deep Bay would become China's seventh Ramsar Site.

This is in addition to the following six sites which are already Ramsar Sites in China: Xianghai, Jilin Province (105,470 ha), Zhalong, Heilongjiang Province (210,000 ha), Po Yang Hu, Jiangxi Province (22,400 ha), Dong Ting Hu, Hunan Province (190,000 ha), Niao Dao, Qinghai Province (53,600 ha) and Dong Zhai Gang, Hainan Isl. (5,400 ha).

Lew Young

Back to top

P.4

Illegal trapping

On 6 August 1997 I found a Little Egret caught by a fish hook, hanging on a rope across a fish pond at San Tin. My colleagues and I pulled the bird to the shore. As the hook only entangled one of its primaries, the bird was not badly hurt. However it was soaked and could not fly after we released it. Later we found and destroyed a similar trap on a different pond. The traps may be aimed at cormorants.

On 7 March 1998 I spotted a large baited animal trap at Luk Keng Village. I reported the matter at the management centre of Pat Sin Leng Country Park. Officers at the centre immediately went to investigate. I do not know the result of their investigation. Nevertheless I greatly appreciate the efficiency of the officers of Pat Sin Leng Country Park Management Centre.

Kwok Hon-kai

Back to top

P.4

Back to Contents
Back to Porcupine Homepage
Go to Department Homepage