Using Google News Archive I have recently found a couple of interesting Hong Kong zoological oddities,which I present here in chronological order of the events themselves. They all confirm what a strange place Hong Kong is zoologically speaking.
The titles in capitals are my own.
1. Prehistoric ?
Star-News August 25th 1976 ANCIENT SEA MONSTER?
Archaeologists find strange monster near secluded Hong Kong Bay
(Unfortunately this wasn`t exactly true-read on:) “ Villagers in the sheltered valley behind Hong Kong island`s Big Wave Bay know it well- the carving of some strange god or monster on a fine grain volcanic rock. The highly abstract motif on the eastern arm of the bay is shrouded in inexplicable swirls and spirals. It has a pair of eyes which stare across the waves to the other side of the bay. The villagers say it was there when their ancestors first moved into the valley. And it was not some deity that they worshipped. The mystery is who carved it. William Meacham, an American from Nashville, Tenn, has spent many hours searching for some archaeological clues in the valley to find out what kind of people did the carving. He found nothing.
2. 1881
The Luddington Record January 20th 1881 SEA SNAKES
The author is describing his/her journey down the coast of South China by sea in an article titled - `The Celestial Empire` : The voyage down the coast was smooth and pleasant; the water was of a magnificent azure and swarming with flying fish,huge jellyfish and an occasional whale spouting in the distance. When one day out from Hong Kong, we noticed several snakes from six to eight feet in length, and brilliant colors; swimming on the surface of the sea. I begin to believe in the story of the sea serpent, for why may not these snakes or some species of them grow to a large size?
3. 1904
Star (New Zealand paper) October 1st 1904 TURTLES. This is interesting because I thought this was a practice only introduced by Buddhists in the last 10-20 years or so. Evidently not.
Good Luck – For Turtles.
The Chinese have a peculiar custom with regard to turtles, which they regard as very good joss. Almost any day one can see these creatures, some of them of huge size, being carried on board the river steamers, not to be taken to Canton for culinary purposes, but to be dumped into the sea and restored to liberty and freedom. Good luck is considered to follow. “Press” Hong Kong.
4. 1965
Milwaukee Journal July 31st 1965 TIGER. This was probably one of the last,if not the last, Hong Kong tiger.
Hong Kong Enlarges Hunt For Wild Tiger
Hong Kong UPI A unit of British Gurkha troops has joined the search for a tiger believed to be roaming a suburban section of this British (colony? Word missing.) The tiger was first sighted last week by a teenage girl. A search failed to locate the animal though its tracks have been seen.
The titles in capitals are my own.
1. Prehistoric ?
Star-News August 25th 1976 ANCIENT SEA MONSTER?
Archaeologists find strange monster near secluded Hong Kong Bay
(Unfortunately this wasn`t exactly true-read on:) “ Villagers in the sheltered valley behind Hong Kong island`s Big Wave Bay know it well- the carving of some strange god or monster on a fine grain volcanic rock. The highly abstract motif on the eastern arm of the bay is shrouded in inexplicable swirls and spirals. It has a pair of eyes which stare across the waves to the other side of the bay. The villagers say it was there when their ancestors first moved into the valley. And it was not some deity that they worshipped. The mystery is who carved it. William Meacham, an American from Nashville, Tenn, has spent many hours searching for some archaeological clues in the valley to find out what kind of people did the carving. He found nothing.
2. 1881
The Luddington Record January 20th 1881 SEA SNAKES
The author is describing his/her journey down the coast of South China by sea in an article titled - `The Celestial Empire` : The voyage down the coast was smooth and pleasant; the water was of a magnificent azure and swarming with flying fish,huge jellyfish and an occasional whale spouting in the distance. When one day out from Hong Kong, we noticed several snakes from six to eight feet in length, and brilliant colors; swimming on the surface of the sea. I begin to believe in the story of the sea serpent, for why may not these snakes or some species of them grow to a large size?
3. 1904
Star (New Zealand paper) October 1st 1904 TURTLES. This is interesting because I thought this was a practice only introduced by Buddhists in the last 10-20 years or so. Evidently not.
Good Luck – For Turtles.
The Chinese have a peculiar custom with regard to turtles, which they regard as very good joss. Almost any day one can see these creatures, some of them of huge size, being carried on board the river steamers, not to be taken to Canton for culinary purposes, but to be dumped into the sea and restored to liberty and freedom. Good luck is considered to follow. “Press” Hong Kong.
4. 1965
Milwaukee Journal July 31st 1965 TIGER. This was probably one of the last,if not the last, Hong Kong tiger.
Hong Kong Enlarges Hunt For Wild Tiger
Hong Kong UPI A unit of British Gurkha troops has joined the search for a tiger believed to be roaming a suburban section of this British (colony? Word missing.) The tiger was first sighted last week by a teenage girl. A search failed to locate the animal though its tracks have been seen.
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