DEATH AT THE ZOO

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2183, 23 June 1914, Page 5

DEATH AT THE ZOO

THE YOUNG LION SUCCUMBS TO PNEUMONIA. (By John Crewes, President of tho Wellington Zoological Society.) On Sunday afternoon a large number of people visited the Zoo. Tho clergy were- well represented, and membors of tho council of tho Wellington Zoological Society were presont, and discussed with each other tho identity of tho glorious mandarin drako that, in full plumage ,now, excites intense admiration, tho arrangement of certain matter iu the forthcoming hand-book and pro-guide to tho Zoo, tho constitution of lions, and the existence of the Creator. In, the Zoo on Sunday afternoons tfco whole gamut of the universe, from tho atom or tho electron to the existenco and character, of the Supreme Being, is reverently and to aomo extent profitably studied. In the fine weather of Sunday many things were pleasurably noticed in tho Zoo, but the menagerie was like a splendid instrument, having one note, and that an important one of it, out of tune. George, the young lion, was ill, and was conspicuously invisible. Numerous inquiries were received as I moved about in tho multitude, but I could only tell that tho youth was unwell, and was resting in seclusion.

Now it is ray painful duty, the most painful that has fallen to me touching tho Zoo, it is ray duty to report that George, tho young lion in tlio. Zoo, is dead. When he was born ho was a beautiful cub; and later his growth, up to the anniversary of his first birthday, was almost phenomenal; he'was a ■handsome yearling; but a little later his teeth troubled him. Ho seemed, however, to be getting over that, wher whilo ho was yet foverish and irritable tho anniversary of the King's Birthday came, and the. firing of the Royal Salute near the Zoo, and the changes that were made id a neighbouring den on account of the illness of the lioness that was there, so oxcitod tho youth that he be-' came an excited, timid, nervous, inflamed wreck, an easy prey to tho cold and damp, changeable weather that we hiivo had recently. Yesterday, George died of pneumonia. -I heartily condole with my friend, Councillor Frost, on the deatb. of the handsome young lion that was named in his honour by the public; but I hopo that the name may vpl bo worthily perpetuated . in the Zoo. - •' '■