YOUNG HIPPOPOTAMUS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 145, 15 March 1939, Page 11

YOUNG HIPPOPOTAMUS

Arrival From Sydney For Auckland Zoo TRANSPORT PROBLEMS Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, March 14. Looking a picture of health, but scarcely of beauty, Nada, the hippopotamus recently purchased by the Auckland Zoo, arrived from Sydney by the Awatea in no way affected by her first sea trip. Later she took up residence in her new quarters, though to zoo officials and others concerned the transport operation was not quite so simple as the words imply. Born and bred at Taronga Park Zoo. Sydney, Nada appears to have paid little attention'to feminine strictures about diet, for in her two brief years of life she has undoubtedly put on weight. Today she turns the scales at. a ponderous H tons or, more impressively, nearly 28001 b. With so much hippopotamus to deal with, Taronga Park officials had to give special attention to the shipping question. Nada was housed in a stout hardwood crate 9ft. long and 4ft. square at the ends, which were enclosed with strong iron bars. After being transferred to the ship’s side by motor-lorry, she was hoisted into the forward hold in the Awatea by crane. Not accustomed to such a procedure, and unable to comprehend the unwsual public interest in her departure, ■frada became a little excited just before sailing and struck her head on one of the bars. She received a superficial wound above one eye, out this .is expected to heal quickly. Sleeping, eating and bathing appear to have been Nada’s sole occupations during the Tasman crossing. She was in the charge of the ship’s carpenter and plumber, who report that they experienced no trouble in handling her. Every morning she consumed a meal of 101 b. of dry and 201 b. of wet lucerne, and three times daily she enjoyed a liberal hosing down. A crane was again employed to lift her from-the ship here, and she was immediately taken to the zoo by motorlorry. There, after much effort, the heavy crate was manoeuvred into a suitable position and Nada was released into the enclosure which will be her home. Dlnlznlu, the zoo’s young male hip popotnmus. who was already hi occupation. did not appear to like the instrusion and retired to a distance, but Nada, taking no notice whatever, made directly for the swimming-pool, wherf she enjoyed her first bathe for several days.