CHICAGO’S BARLESS ZOO

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 927, 21 March 1930, Page 13

CHICAGO’S BARLESS ZOO

ELECTRICALLY-HEATED ROCKS

A community kitchen, electrically equipped, a completely equipped hospital. ultra-violet ray glass, and many other luxuries are being provided for the animals and insects that will inhabit Chicago's 196-acre bar-iess zoo. It is the first project of its kind in the world to have been planned mid laid out as an entire unit before actual construction. Provisions are being made for more than 3,600 animal specimens and 200 species of insects. The insect depanment will feature ant colonies in glass houses, where spectators mav stud, the interesting habits of the inmates, while glass-sided hives for the bees will show how they store their honev and restore their comb. So far as possible, natural surroundings will be furnished for the animals. Instead of being caged many of them will have large open play yards, equipped with pools and rocky retreats. No bars will surround them. but high walls and moats will be so constructed as to prevent escape and yet not interfere with a view of the animals from the outside. The rocks for the pens are being made from cement and granite on a wire base. An aged appearance is obtained by a sandblast treatment. It is planned to introduce resistance wires in some of the rocks to keep them drv and warm in damp weather. This scheme has been followed with great success in a European zoo, whew a number oi monkeys are kept in comparative freedom. The grounds have been laid out to provide ample space for parking motor-cars near the main exhibits. The animal city has its own water, sewerage, light, and power system, and part of it will be completed this year.