A GROWING COLLECTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 114, 15 May 1926, Page 11

A GROWING COLLECTION.

INCREASES AT THE ZOO. TWO BISON FROM CANADA. Two Canadian 'bison from the Canadian National Park form "the latest addition to the Auckland Zoo. The animals, a male and female, arrived yesterday by the Wairuna from the Pacific Coast in excellent condition. They are a gift to Auckland by the National Park authorities and have been obtained through the kindness of Mr. C. M. Croft, Canadian Trade Commissioner at Auckland. The bison are two years of age. A number of birthe at the Zoo were mentioned this morning by the Mayor, Mr. George Baildon. A young lama was born yesterday, and makes the third birth in the lama collection. The newj comer is a particularly healthy little I animal and although its mother is getI ting very old, she is very active in her attentions towards it. The young 'black bear, which was born some time ago, is thriving splendidly, and, although less than 12 months old, is well grown and quite at home with the rest of the bear family. The female nilgai had twing about two months ago, and both the little nilgais are in the best of condition. The young porcupine which was born at the Zoo has grown into a fine specimen, and is almost as large as his mother. The racoon have considerably I increased in numbers, and make a very interesting exhibit. Two have been given to the Wellington Zoo and there are 12 in the Auckland collection, from the original pair that were obtained some y.ear,s The young sacred baboon .is . now nine months old, and is proving a source of much amusement to the public. In the bird section there have been countless increases. The golden and silver pheasants, the peacocks, various; I kinds of young jucka and the Egyptian ; ' geese are thoroughly at home and doing ! well. j During the tour of Mr. J.. S. Brigham, town clerk, efforts will be made to j obtain further valuable additions to I the Zoo: and a request has recently been sent to the director of the National ! Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, South ' j Africa, for two giraffes, two female J I impala, two female sable antelope, two | i female roe rhebok, two female germsbok. j , two female bushbok. two pairs of duykerbok. two pairs of blesbok, two pairs of sprinkbok and one rhino. One pur- j pose of these orders is. to obtain mates for the present inhabitants at the Zoo.