MENAGERIE ON SHIP.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 319, 29 December 1936, Page 6

MENAGERIE ON SHIP.

Two Leopards For Zoo At Newtown Park. Press Association —Copyright, Auckland, December 28. In the best of health and spirits, a large consignment of monkeys and birds for the Auckland Zoo arrived at Auckland by the Narbada. Only two animals, a pair of leopard cats, failed to make the trip safely. They died a few days after the Narbada left Singapore. The full consignment consisted of nine apes of the Gibbon species, representing the grey masked, gloved, silvery and agile varieties, a pair of pig-tailed monkeys, a pair of slow lemurs, two pair of mandarin ducks, a Burmese peafowl, a fireback hen, 10 cattle, egrets and two brahamny I kites. In addition there are two young leopards which are to go to the Wellington Zoo. The most interesting personalities in the animal passenger list are undoubtedly the monkeys, which should prove a considerable attraction at the zoo. They' were all comfortably housed on the vessel and in the daytime were generally allowed on deck, tethered by long chains to awning ; stanchions. One female monkey with j a 'whole host of amusing antics was christened Mae West, and another young animal was practically given the freedom of the ship. The two leopards for the Wellington Zoo were hardly more than cubs when they were' placed on board the > Narabada. They' also became great | pets with the passengers, and al-! though they have*grown rapidly into fine young animals, they are exceedingly playful and remarkably tame.