BOMBS ON LONDON ZOO

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 126, 21 February 1941, Page 9

BOMBS ON LONDON ZOO

Emergency Precautions Reference to the effect of air-raids on the London Zoo, and the measures taken there to guard against the escape of dangerous animals, was made yesterday by the curator of the Wellington Zoo, Mr. J. C. Cutler. He wtrs describing the emergency precautions being taken at. Newtown Park, as reported in yesterday's issue of "The Dominion.” He drew attention to a statement by tlie director of the London Zoo, printed in “The Times,” to the effect that the only animals which had been killed as a precautionary measure were snakes and poisonous spiders, and that the Zoo was carrying on as far as possible in its peacetime routine. Tlie Zoo had not escaped its share of bombs, any more than the rest or London, .stated the director. It had suffered no casualties, however, ami the only escapes had been by three humming-birds through a bomb hole in the bird-house roof. A demoiselle crane escaped into Regent’s Park when its enclosure was damaged by a high explosive bomb, but was recaptured after a few days; and a zebra liberated bv a direct hit on the zebra house was rounded up without much difficulty. Monkey Hill received a direct hit. but rhe inmates were all sheltering. Experienced keepers would be able to recapture most animals, but 'if a bear, chimpanzee, or large antelope proved recalcitrant rifles would be used as a last resort. Poisonous snakes and spiders were all destroyed within a few hours of tlie declaration of war, because it was felt that if released they might elude capture. The only other really dangerous animals were the large cats ami the polar bears. AU the dangerous cats were shut up every night in their inner sleeping deus: two bombs would bi required to release them, one to break the den and one to break the bars of the eage. The odds against such an event were so great its possibility could be disregarded The polar bears, whom keepers almost regarded as the most, alarming inhabitants of the Zoo. wore each night shut in the underground tunnel behind their terrace, from which escape seemed impossible. The Zoo authorities felt no apprehension need be felt of the danger of escaped lions and tigers being added to the terror of bombings. Meanwhile they had kepi the Zoo open as one of the tew places of open-air entertainment in war-stricken London.