Page 12 Advertisements Column 2

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1915, Page 12

GERMANY'S WILD BEAST TRADE. The various forma of trade which have been lost to Germany as the result of the war even include the wild beast trade, a department of commerce for the conduct of which it might be supposed the modern Hun is peculiarly adapted. Germany has for many years controlled the bulk of the wild animal business of the world. The enormous trade built up by the Hagenbecks was one of the great commercial enterprises of Germany, furnishing the major portion of the collections for the zoological gardens of Jiurope and America and the many private parks. Their business of supplying animals for circuses and trained animal shows was enormous, and troupes of performing beasts, with complete properties, such as have been exhibited at great expositions, were always on hand for sale. They also carried on a large trade oi importing game birds and animals for sportsmen. The wonderful wild animal park founded by the late Carl Hagenbeck at Stellingeu, a short distance outside Hamburg, was one ofthe show places of the Continent. Practically all of the wild creatures brought to the Port of Hamburg were purchased by them, and sailing masters trading with German ports were always on the lookout for specimens to bring back to already market. Many of the cities of North and South America have gone in for zoos on a large scale, the New York Zoological Society alone making purchases within the last few years of an extent to keep the animal dealers on the qui vive, and almost double the price of specimens. ■ The greater part of this business was done by Hagenbecks. Their great business, however, has been paralysed by the war. and Germany is no longer controlling 75 to 80 per cent of the wild animal traffic. No doubt, says a miter on the subject, the bulk of this lucrative business will for the future be done by Great Britain, which by Us great commercial marine power is best equipped for the task of supplying what Germans will never agaia be able to undertake, • '