Ocean Park Presents a Kaleidoscopic Gallery of Nature with 3-D Seahorse, Blue Surgeonfish and Hammerhead Shark Topiaries at Flower Show to Promote Conservation

Ocean Park has been awarded with Gold Award for Outstanding Exhibit (Landscape Display) for its edutaining presentation at the Hong Kong Flower Show 2016. Using this year’s theme flower Antirrhinum majus, added by Cuphea hyssopifolia, Alternanthera sp. and more, the Park created a Kaleidoscopic gallery of nature with topiaries of seahorse and hammerhead shark inside a beautiful underwater coral reef habitat, and eco-exposition of paintings of giant panda, koala and blue-crowned laughing thrush living in different types of forests. Through these elegant and lively 3-D displays, the Park aims to arouse public’s support on SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) programme and showcase the natural beauty of biodiversity to the public.

Visitors will find plenty of creative and fun-filled photo opportunities embraced by beautiful creatures at a coral reef in the Ocean Park exhibit at the Flower Show.  Framing portraits with lush costumes made of flowers stand out among the sea of floral art, attracting visitors to ‘try on’ the costume and capture the memorable moments with their companions. The Park also promotes sustainability with succulents and colorful potted plants that are grown in terrariums with a partially enclosed cavity design, creating a self-sustaining water cycle that reduces the amount of water needed for planting.

Yellow seahorse, corals, scalloped hammerhead shark, giant panda and blue-crowned laughing thrush are five of the ten selected regional species to be included in SAFE programme. The Park supports the programme by help ensuring these species to have an assurance breeding programme and do not become extirpated. Our support covers recovery programmes, captive breeding and reintroduction research, in-situ research, as well as community awareness programmes. Through these beautiful topiaries the Park’s landscaping team has created, Ocean Park hopes visitors could learn about the contribution of these valuable wild species to the ecosystem and take action to protect them. Visitors are encouraged to adapt a simple lifestyle; reduce, reuse and recycle to preserve the sustainability of resources in the wild.

Mr. Todd Hougland, Ocean Park’s Executive Director for Operations and Entertainment, said, “This is Ocean Park’s 16^th consecutive year to participate in the annual ‘Hong Kong Flower Show’. Thanks to the effort of our landscaping team in creating this exquisite art gallery. The topiaries and paintings of the selected species from SAFE can definitely reinforce the Park’s proactive support toward the programme. While we hope visitors will be receptive to Ocean Park’s continuous efforts in promoting conservation and sustainability, please do not forget to be thankful and indulge in the beauty of biodiversity as well!”