Kangaroo Is a Victim of the Boxing Arena

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 751, 26 August 1929, Page 11

Kangaroo Is a Victim of the Boxing Arena

Zoo Mourns Death of Elderly Animal PENALTY OF PROFESSION If Bill, the Zoo's elderly red kangaroo, had had a better guard when he was in the boxing-ring. he would have been alive today. Bill had a weak guard, so he is dead. Anyhow, his departure from this world has earned him the distinction of being, perhaps, the only boxing kangaroo who died from bis trade. Rill s death has been the subject of a grim little account which has gone to the City Council from Mr. I- T. Griffin, curator at the Zoo. It is this: “The old male red kangaroo with the diseased face is dead. There was no hope for him. His lower awbone was dead, and the animal s trouble. 1 believe, started in the boxing-ring. It may have been added to by an accident at Luna Park before he came to us.” So. the passing of Bill . . ■ And yet. who can censure the kangaroo for not realising, in the heat of a boxing match, that those persistent taps on his jaw would mean his death? Bill paid the penalty of hi* art. It is a pity that scowling opponents found the kangaroo s guard so weak. FOUND UNCONSCIOUS Then there was that mishap at Luna Park. Somehow or other. Bill found \ himself on the scenic railway, soaring toward the stars. There was a ■ nastv tumble from rocking heights, and Bill was picked up unconscious. He even had to be treated at the animals’ hospital at New Lynn. That was early this year. For his fortitude in ensuing dismal months Bill deserves a little memorial. His demise was recorded in the zoo’s periodical death roll. There ate solemn little messages in the roll. For instance, the African Rhoirebok. a victim of disease, had this commem ; on his death: —“We were sorry to lose him; he was a particular favourite.” | Then the Egyptian goose, described i as “ a poor specimen.” was destroyed !by order. Michael, a more pork, was ! killed in a squabble with a cageI fellow. New arrivals can dispel the sorrow. There was rejoicing over the appear- ! ance of two lion cubs, and. recently. : three young tigers. Seven little i Budgeregas were born in the aviary. four black swans were caught at i Western Springs, two impertinent I Australian piping crows were preI sented and so were a red and yellow ' macaw, an albino pheasant, and a j pukeko.

(From Saturday's late Edition)