HUNTING FOR THE ZOOS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1919, Page 1

HUNTING FOR THE ZOOS

NEW YORK, May 28,

A remarkable order for wild animals has been received from a syndicate of United States sportsmen by the World’s Zoological Trading Company, a British firm. The order, the largest of its kind in zoological commerce, Includes the following:— 15 elephants 15 lions 8 hippopotamuses 15 leopards 8 rhinoceroses 14 Cheetah 35 eland 15 hartebeost 8 giraffes 35 zebras 15 waterbuck 10 billy goats 40 nanny goats. Also wild hogs and monkeys.

Mr H. E. Osborne a director of this firm, which thrives on a happy combination of business and adventure, stated yesterday that the American sportsmen making the purchase had bought large tracts of land and needed the . animals for breeding. “Wo have a number of the animals in stock,” ho said, “ready for immediate delivery. “There is a general shortage of wild animals. The world’s zoological societies during the war have not been able to. replace animals, birds, and insects that have died. Hundreds of thousands of big game were killed during the East African campaign. Biggame hunting, therefore, promises to be lucrative work for adventurous young men.”

The following were stated to be the present prices:— Elephant hi ,000, zebra £IOO rhineeros £I,OOO, cheetah £6O to £7O giraffe £1,200, leopard £6O lion (black mane) £SOOO, wild dog £2O. Inferior types of lions are to he had at £IOO each, and a cheaper variety of elephants at £SOO. Freight charges are very .high. A passage for a giraffe from Africa before the war, £3O, now costs £l5O, while the rate for a leopard is £6O, or the market value of the animal.