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To: |
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Subject: |
[OB] Fairy Pitta petition |
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From: |
Hugo Phillipps <> |
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Date: |
Wed, 16 Feb 2000 15:04:49 +1100 |
Hi everyone -
We have been asked by June Hsieh of the Division of International Exchange &
Cooperation, Chinese Wild Bird Federation, BirdLife Partner in Taiwan
http://com5.iis.sinica.edu.tw/~cwbf
to circulate the petition below.
NB. The petition came as an attachment, the contents of which I have pasted
into this message.
Thanks,
Hugo
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The Fairy Pitta (Pitta mympha) is enlisted on the Red Data Book as a
globally threatened species. It distributes in China, Taiwan, Japan, South
Korea, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Vietnam where habitat destructions
are rapidly threatening the population of this species. .
Fairy Pitta, splendidly abundant in color all over the body, is
approximately 18-20 centimeters in length. It is known as the "eight-color
bird" in Chinese mandarin due to the feathers bearing eight colors: green,
blue, light yellow, brown (earth), red, black and white.
Being introverted and alert, it tends to hop alone or in pairs, scarcely
seen, on the humid bottom of the forest, preying primarily on spineless
worms of bamboo insects, such as earthworms. Its nest, well woven with
twigs and leaves in the shape of a ball, is built on the ground or at the
joint of branches, with the opening at the side.
The Fairy Pitta migrates northward to Taiwan in spring and summer times to
breed. It was once abundant in parts of Taiwan, but is now scarce due to
habitat destruction.
The Hu-ben community, in spite of owning such precious natural resources,
is facing a tremendous crisis. Pillow Hill in Hu-ben, an important area for
wild animals, will be levelled in three months with government approve of
gravel exploitation. However, there was no environmental impact assessment
done and the application was very roughly reviewed.
If exploitation goes uncontrolled, not only will it incur the protestation
from international conservationist groups, but also 40 rare species,
including the precious Fairy Pitta, will face local extinction.
Once Hu-ben village, and the surrounding area, the "home village of the
Taiwanese eight-color birds", is destroyed by the gravel exploitation, we
will only be able to tell our kids, by pointing to photographs, and telling
the legend of the "eight-color birds".
This will become a great sorrow for Taiwanese, for which nothing can ever
be done to bring back such a treasure once it is lost.
Please support our protection campaigns for "saving the home village of
Taiwan's eight -color birds"!
Campaign organizers:
Wild Bird Society of Yun-lin (partner of Chinese Wild Bird Federation):
Chairman, Ching-hsun Hsu
Director general, Heng-chia Chang
Hu-ben Community Developing Association: Chairperson: Eva Yin
Please sign the petition with the following information and return it to
Chinese Wild Bird Federation:
Name Organisation Nationality
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Hugo Phillipps
Communications Coordinator
Birds Australia
415 Riversdale Road
HAWTHORN EAST 3123, Australia
Tel: (03) 9882 2622, fax: (03) 9882 2677
Email: <>
Web site: <http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au>
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