A NEW EXHIBIT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1929, Page 2

A NEW EXHIBIT

BABY HIPPO AT AI'CKLAND ZOO. AI'OKLAXI). Jan. 12. An eight stone baby, possibly ;i boy, now noses round the huge bulk of Bella. :i benign looking female hippopotamus wallowing in her pond out at t lie Auckland Zoo. The interest inn: event took place early this morning. The mother is not so bright as usual, but .Superintendent T. Aldridge is <1 11 ito satisfied with the way things are going. ‘‘She is an excellent mother,” he remarked, ‘‘and the little lellow has already taken nourishment. ’’ It wiil b(> remembered that in September' B)2f>, when Holla brought the first miniature nt hcrseli into the world the father got annoyed about something and did the pour little thing to death the day alter it was born. These births only happen every two years under tile most favourable circumstances, so that Zoo authorities take the keenest interest in them. In the London Zoo, where only one hippo baby was born in fifty years. they made a great fuss over if. Chaika, the father who murdered his one day old infant in 1026. has during the past, three months, been discreetly withdrawn, and has occupied the bachelor pond higher up, but the iron grating between did not prevent him from taking note of what went on in the old home.

“Does he know what has happened in the next pond?” said Mr Aldridge. “Well, I rather thing he does. He lias been very restless all the morning.” Chnrkn is only five years of age, while Bella is two years older. • He yawned several times in a most bored manner while mother and child were getting all the attention this morning. One of the bystanders, remembering the fate of the last baby, suggested. when Cliarka opened about a square yard of month, showing teeth as thick as fencing posts, that perhaps it was not a yawn.

In order to accommodate the little stranger, the water in Bella s pond was lowered, and when lie walks round his back is just out. of the water. MosL of Bella’s bulk stands out even when she is lying on her side, which seemed to |,ti her favourite attitude, with one half of her head under water, hut with the eye in the other half, frequently seeking her oifspring nosing about alongside her. The baby is a perfect replica, in miniature, ol his patents, and does not give that suggestion of “all head and feet” that a puppy does, for instance. He was horn under water, feeds under water, and will probably spend the next week in the samo damp manner. When the time comes for his first jaunt ashore lie will make it pick-a-back. The mother will manoeuvre under water until she gets the little one on her back, and from that elevated post he will survey the scenery, as lie will not have then found

his land legs. !Xo trouble is anticipated when tlie time comes to i lit induce the baby to its father. The contretemps in 11)26 was due to the tact that the parents were left in the same pond which is not the correct etiquette in hippo circles. This time things are managed differently, and it. is confidently expected to rear this interesting little newcomer.