ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 116, 12 November 1938, Page 28

ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY

The proposal to include some Australian animals and birds in the Australian exhibit at the Golden Gate Ex-

position, which is to be held at San Francisco next year, and to present them to the San Francisco Zoo when the exposition closes, raises the question of the longevity of animals in captivity, says a writer in *he Melbourne "Age." Many people consider that it is cruel to keep animals in cap

tivity, and that zoos should be abolished; but it is a remarkable fact that some animals and birds have a longer expectation of life in captivity than they have in a wild state, exposed to the dangers of attack from other beasts and birds of prey. Small birds have been known to live for thirty years in captivity. Considering the rate at "which they breed in a wild state, their numbers would increase to an extent which would render it necessary for . man to take steps to exterminate them if their death-rate in a state of Nature were not much higher. The death-rate among animals and birds during the first few months in captivity in a zoo where they are well cared for is high, but those that become acclimatised to the new conditions may live for many years. The records of the London Zoo show that, a rhinoceros lived in captivity for forty years, a Polar bear for 33 years, a chimpanzee for 25 years, a porcupine for 20 years, .n lemur for 17 years, and a camel for 17 years.

Among birds the record was held by a Greater Vasa parrot, which lived for 54 years at the zoo.

mals in their natural state,, Mr. E. G. Boulengcr, director of the aquarium at the London Zoo, writes in his

book "Animal Mysteries":—"Although amongst mammals large animals as a rule live to a greater age than small ones, there is no constant relation between their size and potential longevity. Thus the maximum duration of life of a giraffe is less than that of a bat. Such gigantic animals as ele-

phants and whales are credited with centuries of existence. They, however, reach their maximum size in a comparatively short period, and are often by no means as venerable as they appear. Elephants, in proportion to their size, have a low potential longevity, lower than that of man. There is, in fact, no authentic record of an elephant of over 70 years. The official lists of the Indian Government show that of 138 elephants only one lived for more than 20 years after it was captured. It has been assumed that giant whales, which may reach a length of over 100 feet and a weight of 80 to 90 tons, are more than a century old. Dr. Frederick A. Lucas, of the American Museum of Natural History, has completed a study of these monsters, and he finds that they reach their full size in comparatively few years. Our ideas as to their remarkable longevity must therefore undergo revision. The hippopotamus and rhinoceros both flourish under cap-

tive conditions, and we are, therefore, able to give a fairly reliable indica-; tion of their potential longevity. In

lii < discussing the longevity of ani- 1 proportion to .their size and weight

Elephants do not Live Long

and Sea Lions Like Music

they are short-lived. The once notorious "Guy Fawkes," a hippopotamus born in the zoo in 1872, died of senile decay at the age. of 39, whilst an Indian rhinoceros, which arrived at the zoo when about two years old, likewise died of senility after only 40 years of captivity. Many birds attain considerable ages. The following are some authentic records:—-Egyptian vulture, 118 years; golden eagle, 104; parrot, 102; swan, 70; raven, 69; eagle owl, 68; herring gull, 44; crane, 43; pelican, 41; peacock, 40; dove, 40; stork, 36; ostrich, 30; oyster catcher, 30; domestic fowl, 30; cassowary, 26; duck.

26; nightingale, 25; skylark, 24; goldfinch, 21; pheasant, 21; canary, 20; kiwi, 20. i These figures show that in birds, as in mammals, there is no relation between size and longevity.

j8 "A giant tortoise that was an intimate of the great Napoleon is still living on the island of St. Helena. As the date when this veteran was exiled from its native land of Aldabra is not recorded, and its age and size at the time were not known, the reptile, Ithough probably tha world's oldest inhabitant, is not in a position, to lay any definite claim. Tortoises attain a greater age than, any other animals, and, according to the late Lord Rothschild, an authority on these creatures, several examples in his museum a* Thring weighing over 5501b must ( have been close on three centuries old when

scientific claims put an end to their protracted existences."

It is generally supposed that polar bears in captivity suffer from the heat in summer, and enjoy a cold winter. But this is not the experience of the London Zoo. "Contrary to the general supposition polar bears in captivity in England enjoy the heat and dislike the cold," writes Mr. Boulenger. "During a heat-wave when even some of the animals from tropical climes are suffering and seeking the shade, the polar bears will, deliberately lie out in the full glare of the sun.. In winter when the temperature falls below 45 degrees,

with the mother; on others they were given to a female dog to foster; and on one occasion they were taken awa^ to be bottle-fed. But in every cas6 the cubs died of pneumonia on the third or fourth day. In only one zoo, that of Milwaukee in the United States, has a polar bear'been reared from birth in captivity. For some weeks before the arrival of the. cub, the female was removed from- the enclosure which she had shared with her consort, and was placed in a small den. She stopped' eating three days before the cub was born. On the day of birth the thermometer registered twelve degrees below zero, and the mother protected her offspring from the cold by pressing it against her abdomen and covering it with her paws. Prior to the birth, straw had been placed in the den, but the expectant mother pushed it aside, preferring to sleep on the bare boards. After the arrival of the cub, the mother took the straw into the inner compartment of her den, and she accepted further supplies offered to her until she had seven bales in all. Her ability to determine when storms were approaching was remarkable. Whenever bad weather was on the way, she would pack the opening of her den from the outside with the straw, leaving only a small vent at the top. In mild weather she would pull the straw away until the opening was practically full-sized. She left the ,den in search of- food at the end of a week. The cub at quite an early age would crawl to the opening of the den, but the parent was always on the watch to discourage any risk. It was not until the cub was four months old that it was allQwed out of the den by its watchful mother.

they avoid the water, with the result that for several months in the year they present an unwashed appearance. Nothing will induce them to take a bath, and if the water bears a coat of ice they gingerly make a circuit of their tanks with their backs towards it, trying the ice with their enormous hind feet. The least suggestion of a crack sends them shuffling from the danger zone to take up their positions on the edge of their enclosure and settle down to the eternal watch for buns."

It has been* found almost impossible to rear polar bear cubs born in captivity. The London Zoo's most famous polar bear, Barbara, gave birth to cubs on several occasions, but they all died, despite* the efforts made to rear them. On some occasions the cubs were left

Some experiments have been made at the London Zoo concerning the effects of music on the inmates. An orchestra consisting of two violins, an oboe, a flute, and a mouth organ, made a N tour of the grounds, visiting each house and enclosure in turn. "The rhinoceros was found to have no ear for music," writes Mr. Boulenger, "and attempted to charge the orchestra, no matter what tune was played. The 'Moonlight Sonata' and 'Tea for Two'

alike aroused his ire. The sea-lions, j on the other hand were delighted with everything put before them, with the exception of jazz. No matter how busy they were playing in their pond they paused and rose to the surface as SQon as the orchestra struck up. Most of the melodies that had exasperated the rhinoceros delighted them, anfl they remained standing waisthigh in the water until the last strains had died away. The wolves • and jackals responded all too readily to the music offered. A tune set: in a minor key at once caused them to point their noses to the sky, and give voice • in so vociferous a manner as to drown completely the orchestra. The minor key, depressing at all times, had a like effect upon most of the animals. The cheetah thoroughly enjoyed the tune of 'I want to be Happy,' but registered discontent and even alarm when favoured with Gounod's 'Funeral March.

"The orchestra when playing in the reptile house never failed to bring the crocodiles to the surface. In fact every pond was emptied, the beasts clustering on the banks and with heads upraised evincing the keenest interest in the performance. In the insect house the like effect was obtained with the scorpions and certain spiders. All birds strange to say, were in no way attracted, and some were obviously annoyed. It seems strange that the world's finest vocalists, the birds, should, on the whole, be practically unappreciative of human vocal or instrumental efforts, when many creatures lower on the scale of life pay willing attention to them. Their mental make-up and aural equipment must be responsible for this, since it has been noticed that a din unsupportable to human ears leaves the bird unmoved, even if persisted in for a long period. The snakes betrayed no emotions when the orchestra played. Experiments conducted at the zoo have proved that these reptiles are deaf, and that the pipe or fiute of the socalled snake-charmer is of no signifiance whatever. The 'dance' of the snake is merely a response to the charmer's rhythmic body swayings which accompany the music."