A ZOO INQUEST

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 159, 23 July 1937, Page 6

A ZOO INQUEST

-Presa Aasociation.)

Causes oi Death at Auckland HUMAN AILMENTS

(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. The extent to which animals and birds are subject to the ailments that afflict human beiugs, is evident from an analysis of the stock losses at the Auckland zoological gardens. Of -the 30 mammals which have died, 10 succumbed to various - well-known diseases, while 40 of the 74 deaths among birds were due to eimilar causes. Tuberculosis claimed a tiger and a sea lion, and two other sea lions died from broncho-pneumonia. This latter disease also accounted for the death of a blue duiker and a spider monkey. A maeaque monkey and two Gibbon apes succumbed to enteritis and . a third Gibbon died from an undetermined cause. The ancient zebra purchased in 1924 and suffering from a diseased leg, died under anaesthetic when an operation was being performed. Three surpius lions for which there was no market, and which were simply a charge on the institution^ were among the seven animals destroyed. Two very elderly monkeys were also killed, as was a diseased bear and a red deer that was suffering from the effects oi a rifle shot wound. A black lemur, which had' been blind for many months, was the only animal to die oft old age. Among the birds, tuberculosis accounted for eight pheasants, four parakeets, three pea fowl and an emu chick. Two pelicans died of kidney trouble and 18 finches succumbed to enteritis.