Thar From Zoo Take To The Hills

Press, Volume C, Issue 29537, 12 June 1961, Page 12

Thar From Zoo Take To The Hills

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 11. The call of the hills was too much for a pair of thar from the Wellington zoo. Overcome with longing, they made their escape from the zoo this morning. The thar, a species of goat, arrived from Sydney last week Time 'pent in their new home gave them the chance to reflect and at about 8 a.m. today they saw their chance for a change from pens to hills. They were gone in a flash from the keeper’s hands when he entered their confines. The zoo staff mounted a chase with the director, Mr C. J. Cutler, armed with a tranquiliser gun. Police also joined in the hunt. The delinquent pair began their sightseeing in the town belt above the zoo —a brief scamper among the trees before they split up to seek the pleasures of the city.

One struck out for Kilbirnie, the other chose the city proper. The fine day wore on and near darkness the pursuing host was in full cry. having tracked one of the quarry to the Basin Reserve. Freedom did not end without a fight. A thar could resist arrest. He charged a constable down and another emerged from the melee with tom trousers and tunic. They quelled his spirit with a tranquilliser gun. The companion thar, in the meantime, had wandered into a Kilbirnie garage where a boy took charge of the situation. roped the animal, and kept him calm till zoo officers collected him. The pair went home with new-found knowledge. The Wellington hills and by-ways were sweeter.