"ZOO" CONTRAST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1341, 19 January 1912, Page 3

"ZOO" CONTRAST.

, . ADVANTAGES OF HUMAN EDUCATION FOR ANIMALS. "L.G.M." writes as follows in the London "Daily Mail":—Two warmed wards of the hospital at the Zoological Gardens are occupied.during the cold weather by a baby jaguar and a baby leopard. The jaguar was horn in the Zoological Gardens and was educated by his mother. The leopard was caught when tiny, brought to England, and entirely educated by human beings. Both are now about a year old. It must be frankly admitted that the young jaguar's savage mother has entirely failed to teach her baby the rudiments of the social virtues, while the mantrained leopard is the most lovable little beast imaginable. I'paid a visit to both during,thb weekend in company with the Curator of Mammals, Mr. K. I. Pocock, but before visiting the savage little jaguar it was necessary to protect oneself with a broom. With wonderful pluck the baby faced two gigantic strangers, snarling and growling enough for the whole lion's house. Its springs wera met by tho 1 broom, on which it vented its infant rage, 1 clawing and scarring the wood with un- ; believable energy, although it is no bigger ' than a terrier. On calling on the little hand-reared- ' leopard, however, no precautions i were ' necessary. It welcomed us with all the playfulness of ai kitten, played with my gloves, and rolled over and over in an ecstasy of good temper and delight. When ; wa tried to say good-bye the young ■ leopard was too quick for us and wriggled ■ its way out of the closing door and went for a scamper round the hospital yard, ■ visiting some eagles also in the r(uar(ers. We left a hospital attendant trying to ; persuade it to go home. ii—ui. i^nupjiiun.