New Guinea s unique wild life

sanctuary to remain intact

From a Mount Hagen correspondent Thousands of visitors will be in Mt. Hagen on August 19 for the Fourth Hagen Show—a show which has developed as the world’s greatest spectacle of the primitive. Visitors will see among other fascinating things the famed birds of paradise, and some of them may get the chance to visit the Baiyer River, about 30 miles from Mt. Hagen, where they will be able to view these birds in a new wild life sanctuary.

rAT sanctuary involves a story.

Some months ago in the Western Highlands there was widespread dis may at the news of the imminent sale of the site of the famous bird sanctuary at Nondugl, established by Sir Edward Hallstrom after the war.

Sir Edward is a Sydney philanthropist and businessman, who for many years was chairman of Sydney’s Taronga Park Zoo. His sanctuary was established in association with the Hallstrom Livestock Trust.

The Nondugl sanctuary was always a big tourist attraction, particularly famed for its unique collection of birds of paradise. It was in charge of Mr. Fred Shaw-Mayer, recognised as a world authority on the birds.

He was and is something of an in stitution locally, as he organised the New Guineans in the not-inconsider able task of finding suitable foods for his large collection of birds and other fauna in the sanctuary.

Papaws, berries, grasshopper grubs and millions of ant eggs have always been in demand and bought by Mr.

Shaw-Mayer.

Would birds be sold?

The Western Highlands District did not want to lose either Mr.

Shaw-Mayer or the sanctuary, so not surprisingly there was some local opposition to the sale of the Nondugl site. There were rumours that the famed collection of birds would be dispersed throughout various world zoos.

And then, some months ago, it became apparent that Sir Edward Hallstrom had no intention of leav ing the Western Highlands without its famed bird sanctuary. The “Gloomy Joes” were wrong. Sir Edward wouldn’t let down his friends.

Nondugl has since been sold, but in the last few months there has been built up, on a 60-acre site on the

Baiyer River, a brand-new bird and animal sanctuary for the Western Highlands, called Hallstrom Park.

Birds and animals have been moved, and it is hoped locally that Sir Edward, as patron, will be able to perform the official opening on his 81st birthday in September. In Sydney, Sir Edward has been ill and has not seen recent developments.

Hallstrom Park has been built be cause of the considerable generosity of Sir Edward. But it also owes much to a great deal of hard work by Western Highlands residents and the Administration. The Administra tion also has put in money.

Active Tom Ellis

The new sanctuary has been built under the direction of the Hallstrom Park Development Committee, presi dent of which is active Western Highlands District Commissioner.

Mr. Tom Ellis. Local planters and businessmen are on the committee.

Sir Edward has supplied the cages for the birds and animals and has donated 150 birds from the old

Nondugl sanctuary. Sir Edwa contribution to the project will pi ably be in excess of $lOO,OOO.

The Administration has provi the land, fencing, and rest-house t accommodation for Mr. Shaw-Ms and his assistants.

All kinds of people helped in kinds of ways—some with cash dc tions (including a personal one fi the Minister for Territories, Mr. C Barnes) and others with mater and labour. New Guineans and Ei peans gave free time to make roi build fences and temporary ca Forestry officer, John Lowein, for stance, devoted a great deal of own time to beautification work the park.

Major attraction

In the near future, in its beaut Baiyer Valley surroundings, H strom Park should be a major tor attraction in New Guinea. As Edward has said, it will be one of most fascinating sanctuaries in world.

And since the sanctuary will h a section devoted to breeding scientific research, many Highla people who know the situation hope, with Sir Edward, that Hallsti Park can halt the threat of extinct of these wonderful birds.

• See "What the trust accomplished", p. 28.