Caption: Minister
Tkatchenko
By MATTHEW VARI
RECENT moves by the Adventure Park in Port Moresby has seen the export of close to 20 native animals to China, including that of the Paradisaea reggiana bird of paradise, which is the national emblem of the country.
Two species that included the famous bird of paradise and a vulnerable tree kangaroo species called the Doris tree kangaroo.
Speaking to the media during the week Minister for Sports and National Events, Justine Tkatchenko, said that moving of the animals two weeks ago to China was a stringent process that took five years to eventuate.
“Five years ago we started on a project to conserve the flora and fauna of Papua New Guinea through the wildlife sanctuary here at the adventure park here at 14 Mile Port Moresby,” Mr Tkatchenko said.
“This conservation and preservation project is all about conserving the birds of paradise and tree kangaroos and this was before I became a politician.”
It was done to preserve the rare tree kangaroos in our country as well as protecting and breeding the birds of paradise of PNG.”
Tkatchenko said that they had sent to China 10 birds of paradise (Paradisaea reggiana) and four pairs (8) tree kangaroos.
He said the birds of paradise sent are still very common throughout the ranges and habitats throughout the country, however, the Doris tree kangaroos, was a very vulnerable species that was still common but was in danger as its habitat is disappearing very quickly from agriculture, logging, forestry and so on.
After being approached from one of the biggest zoos in the world, Chimelong Zoo in Guangzhou province in China, who were interested in doing a breeding conservation program of the birds of Paradise, as well as the tree kangaroos to conserve the species for the future generations.
“It took five years to send these birds and animals over to China and we had to make sure we followed all the rules of China and all the rules of Papua New Guinea when it comes to sending our protected species to other countries,” Minister Tkatchenko explained.
“We got all the necessary permits and approvals and one of the most important one was the CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) permit is a worldwide protection of flora and fauna in the world.”
“I’ll be looking forward to going to China in February to visit all our animals out there to see them in their new enclosures that have been specially made for our birds and tree kangaroos.”
He added that the Chimelong Zoo was the same zoo famous for the recently bred panda triplets’, one of the most famous animals in the world that is also one of the most endangered near extinction in the wild, with Chaimelong having triplets for the first time in history.
“They have a great record for their conservation in breeding programs and we forward to our animals and our birds doing very well in China,” he said.
“This is the start and if this does well we will look at sending other different species of birds and animals to china for breeding.”
“The most important thing is that this is like a promotion for our country as well- when the Chinese visitors see some of our animals and birds that will give a new understanding of what PNG is all about.”
He added that the arrangement will see benefits to the country with the arrival of other animals from the world and will also be a pull factor for tourism and preservation of iconic species for the future.
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