MOVING THE PARIS ZOO

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 86, 5 January 1935, Page 17

MOVING THE PARIS ZOO

There has been a big moving day in Paris; 3000 animals have moved to better homes. After the close of the great Colonial Exhibition in 1932, most of the pavilions were demolished and the exhibits dispersed. The animals would have gone too, but Marshal Lyautey suggested that perhaps a little zoo which had attracted so many visitors could remain in Paris. It could be larger and better if it were to be permanent, so, half a mile from the original enclosure, part of the Bois de Vincennes was made into a model zoo. The little visitors to France from her colonies were to have as much freedom as possible, as the animals have at our own Whipsnade, so large tracts of waste land have been thrown open to them, where the chamois and mountain sheep and bears have their rocks, high and steep, which conceal the zoo’s infirmary, laboratory, and store-rooms. The fun came when the new zoo was ready. There was no procession of giraffes, elephants, gazelles, and zebras through the little intervening woodland, as one might have hoped for, but each animal was securely packed as if for a world journey.

Many of them did not wish to be packed. Of course, we should expect the monkeys to make trouble, and they did. Some of the baboons escaped into a great tree, and ho tempting delicacies would fetch them down. A zoo official horrified the park keeper by suggesting that the tree should be cut down, but he had to think of a better way. Some captive brothers of the fugitives were brought along In a cage, and placed at the foot of the tree, and, sure enough, the others came cautiously down to shake hands with the prisoners. Then followed a long conversation, and at last they became sufficiently absorbed in each other to be caught in a net. More difficult still it was to move the three-ton rhinoceros. He was baited with food inside his packing-case, none other being given him, and when at last hunger drove him to defy his suspicions, he merely seized a quick helping and slipped out again. By no means could he be persuaded to remain in the packing-case, and in the end a sleeping draught had to be mixed with his food.

All are safely in their new quarters now. and we hope they have foil nd their brief discomfort' well worth while to gain their greater freedom,