OUR "ZOO."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1108, 22 April 1911, Page 6

OUR "ZOO."

'• SOME POSSIBILITIES, Although naturally ho declines to. anticipate his official report to the Wellington City Council, Mr. A. Lo Soetif makes no secret of the fact that he considers the Newtown "Zoo" a. creditable institution, and one with great possibilities of future development. He considers that the place compares very favourably with "zoos" in other towns of equal population that he has visit ml from timo to time. No difficulty will be experienced, ho thinks, in acclimatising all sorts of tropical and other aidmnls in Wellington. The present housing of the animals ho considers fairly satisfactorily, but thinks that a better system of enclosing animals can be introduced gradually. To the oldfashioned system of "caging," Mr. Lo Socuf is determinedly opposed. Tho larger camivora, he stales, lions, tigers, leopards, and other animals, can bo cheaply and comfortably accommodated in dens constructed on natural lines. An embankment, on a hillside provides Iha natural foundation for a deli of Ihe type approved by the .Sydney zoologist. 'Bv way of sleeping quarters for the naimals ho would provide a simple cave scooped nut of the hillside. Steeply rising ground nn either hand and in rear and n monl; neross the front of the enclosure would pffeelnally prevent the animals escaping. A roofed enclosure might be dispensed ivilh, so far as the monkey tribe is con?ernrd. A fairly high fence crowned ivith three foel of smooth iron, sloping ■lightly inwards, would sullies to retain .licso nimble little animals in safe ens,ody. A number of trees could be ondosed within a fence of the description nentiened. Mr. Le Socuf will remain in Xew Zeaand until Friday next. On Thursday wiling- he will deliver a public leclurb it the Town Hall, with lantern slide.