AUCKLAND ZOO.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1924, Page 1

AUCKLAND ZOO.

EXHIBITS ANI) AITETITKS. AUCKLAND, Anyust 10. A wonderful menu is requiteil for the of the Aueklaml Zoo. The J’olar bears like trevalli fresh from Ilauraki Gulf, and damuna, the elej ha lit. is loud of dunipliny,s and dates. As for the monkeys, which are first in juvenile popularity and are already made fastidious by too many tit-bits front little visitors, they prefer apples and bananas, crisp biscuits, nuts, and tender lettuce, especially for litn<lt. Lions live on meat and roar for it uiuler-dtitii'. Bread and milk, with linns on holidays, satisfy brown and black hears, who a!-o have a sweet tooth for fresh fruit. The health of all the animals and 'birds is exceptionally yood. Alan from the dastardly poisottiny of seven exhibits, the mortality rate is aiilony the lowest in the world's zo-iloyieal yat'detis. It has been remarktihle how even the most sensitive tiopiial species have withstoad the ] r.j'.raeted wet winter. None of these has required artificial beat. Tbis feature promise,- a substantial saviny in the cost of maintenance. Artificial hcatiny and nionnyerie expenses in the London Zoo, which has an animal population of .2000 individuals, cost £3OOO it year. .So far this year only three small tropical birds have died, hut not apparently because of atmospheric conditions. Thev were s; iritless from the first in exile. Their mates tire now warbliny tit the a]iproaeh of spiiti". Enormous 'piaiitities of what may he termed zoaloyieal provisions 'areConMimed in the course of it year. The family of lions, for example, 'require annually the carcases of lot) horses absolutely free from any disease. Thiee carcases are consumed every week, with ti calf occasionally added for a chanye of diet. The kitty of beasts and his queens are fond of horse-llesh. and in those days when so much cartiny is beiny done in the zoo yrdunds, it is a litre study in yiaut cal tactics to see a lioness hopelessly slalkiny a dray horse pav.xiny the arena. Miss Elephant is the star hoarder at the zoo. He-i hulk demands ycnerous provisions. A favourite diet is an Indian ditmpliiiy made of (lour, butter, and suyar mixed to the riylil consistency, dates, peanuts, and heaps of yrcen feed. An elephant is quite unsuitable as a domestic pot for the ordinary household, as it costs about £201) a year to feed olle.