BABY SEA-LION

UNDER CARE AT AUCKLAND

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

1 AUCKLAND, August 7

Found in an exhausted state in the Kaipara River during the weekend, ,a baby sea-lion has been forwarded to the Auckland Zoo for care and treatment. Fed on fish and codliver oil since its arrival, the animal has made good progress, and the zoo officials believe it will recover completely.

The sea-lion is of the Australian variety as distinct from the Californian type exhibited at the zoo. About 2ft 6in long, it is thought to be between six months and a year old. It is very tame and easy to handle.

The belief that the sea-lion was making its way north in order to reach warmer waters was expressed by the curator of the zoo, Lieutenant-Colonel Sawer. Because of the extremely cold winter, the sea-lions generally appeared to be moving north, as was indicated by reports stating that they had been seen at various points on the coast. Lieutenant-Colonel Sawer added that, compared with the species exhibited at the zoo, the Australian sea-lion was lighter in coldUf and possessed a larger head and ears.

The baby sea-lion's stay at the zoo may be only of temporary duration, for the species is strictly protected and a permit to retain it will have to be secured. Application for this permit is being made immediately.