CHAMOIS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8766, 18 March 1907, Page 4

CHAMOIS.

■ Tlio Emperor of Austria's gift to | the colony, a fine herd of eight | chamois, captured in the Austrian | Alps, came to hand from London by | the Turakiua iu the pink of condi- | tiou, thanks to the careful attend- | ance they have received through- | out the long voyage from Mr A. L. { L. Bertliug, lato head keeper to the , London Zoological Gardens, who has decided to take up his residence iu the colonies. Since their capture under exciting conditions in Central j Europe, the graceful little auinialir (they are a good deal smaller than the ordinary New Zealand goat) have had* unconsciously au adventurous career. At first they were snowed up in Switzerland for several days. Then a little nearer England the train on which they were travelling caught fire. Next, Inspector«Krauss, of the Emperor's Zoo at Schonbronn, was taken ill, and an undor-keepor had to take his place in escorting the chamois to England. Then the steamer Allonette, in which they crossed from Ostend to London, after being delayed in the fog, had her stern smashed in by a collision in the Thames. After some little trouble with the quarantine authorities and a three days' stay in a barge on the Thames, the chamois, packed safely in their well-made houses, were swung on board the Turakina iu the Royal Albert docks. After leaving England the boxes were placed in a semi-circle on the fore-deck, and with the aid of some boards and a large net the animals were given a little exercise, tiie greatest care being taken not to frighten them, as they were very wild, and in an excited state, might have injured themselves. The principal food given the chamois' was, strangely enough, mistletoe (the hallowed Christinas plant so greatly honored in England for the pleasure it affords), but as the supply became a little mouldy through being improperly dried, this had to give way to ash leaves and fir brandies. When m the tropics an awning was erected to shelter them from the rays of tno sun, premature moulting and a slight difficulty in getting them, to feed, no harm was suffered which is considered wonderfully good luck, as several attempts have been made to transplant chamois to different parts of the world, generally without success. The chamois, or goat antelope, is a snow-line animal, which revels in steep mountainous country, where it displays an agility and foot surenoss that has! never' been equalled by any other mountain animal. Mr Bertliug values tho herd at £IOOO. It is tho intention of the. Tourist Department to liberate the chamois in the Mount Cook district, whither thoy will be taken by Mr Bertliug. Application was made to the Department of Agriculture to relax the quarantine regulations iu regard to the animals. After thoy had been examined by Mr Reakes, ActingChief Veterinarian, the Minister agreed to let them be sent to Mount Cook directly if they wore not removed from their cages, and that the chamois were not to be released within the quarantine period unless a separate place was made for homing them.