AT THE ZOO

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 10, 12 January 1929, Page 17

AT THE ZOO

:;MANY;;fiV!PROVEMENTS; BEARV'PITSAiyD AVIARIES PLANH^airtj^'FlJT'UBE L'piirioiis "may' differ as to whether Ncwtown is;a suitable locality for the zoo, or even whether Wellington needs ;i zoo' at all, ll>ut there can bo no two opinions that during ■ recent' , months great improvements 1 havo been made in the housing of-soine of., the animals and' other exhibit's; atid that improvementshave also' been-made in the genera I lay-out of tliu area.' There is' much more tyaUing.to.be douc'Ju these directions,, butj'tp .what, extent the, content plated improvements, willmaterialisei .is' purely a matter of -f'Ltiaii'ce. • ■ . ' .; Not long ;agp, the bears had a very circumscribed area In which, to, display their charms.to the, admiring, gaze of. visitors; in .fact'so. confined, were their quarters that some said it was a glaring case of cruelty..to dumb .animals. But now, .after, the, expenditure of a considerable amount, of money,, some saying that ■ £2000' : or more for, a bear's resi-dence-is over, the odds, the bears..have, relative, to,their:.previous, quarters, a small kingdom over which to roam. They certainly seem to/appreciate, their new quarters, • which provide ample space for exercise, and : facilities for bathing,, the; latter being'■'•more, appreciated Jby.the polar.bear than by his more dusky follow, captives.;, These open .|jits for earnivora. are- in.ticcordance ; witli the latest ideas, for zoos, and. there is a lot to be : said in .their favour, apart, from the added comfort they, give to the animals. , Their; first ,;cost.is practically their only'cps.t, .there being no ■periodical painting.,of, bars as is the case.witii-the old, type- of. cages., The animals ;in them, are, displayed, to ,much better advantage,, being- .in; surroundings •; more nearly approximating tp. their natural haunts. : Cages ■fpr-.carnivoraare relics of .the.pas.tj.nndjas. far.as.th.c.Newtowu Zoo is concerned it as hoped .to. extend the idea of the open pit :and ; to provide sonioi fpr I the. lions' and., tigers on ■ the same /lilies. ; Bruin is' lucky ..to, have -got in: first..;. Tho. site ■tentatively selected for the -.pits.-for ;the ilions . and' tigers ■is, on; the .slope .above the : elephant house. : ■ . ..'.:.•'•..■;• ■ ,■■ • ■; • ' .

. , Other new ; erectioiis much appreciated by the, pecupants .are, aviaries for small .birds and;parakeets,, and a. pheasantry. These are..all,.rooniy. quarters,' giving the feathered songsters....a' chanco to spread .th.ejn.wiiigq.'■• ••]._■ , •, -. ■ Recent , ; no.wcomers..,ty .the . 'Aoo are' a pair. o.f; Gap.uchin monkeys,, a pura'u,' red-faced-loyo: birds,-owls, eagles,- and yultures., jAlthouglij all these have, not, tho quarters,that'they would themselves select, it,hcy;..ar,o housed,as. well, as possiblo in the.: circums.ta.nc.es. ; The ■ lovebirds seem, qu,ite-happy; with;their-amor-ous twitterings,-,,and-, the monkeys pass the , day" -acqepting .peanuts arid>< other tjtbits.. ; Bu.t.;the.„eagles,:and, :vultures vainly,phie ; for space .in;which to soar, and; .tho,;. pump,, for jungle -spaces . in. which t,o: rdai.u.; ,;,• „ ,-., i • „.' ■ .'. , Furtlier.,iinprp.v.em.ejit3 in-view in theJS Te.wto>y,n , Z.po ..embrace"; the -rebuilding and ama]ga,matio;ir .of.th.o existing and somewhat- (lerelictu deer .'pens. Iti.is iii tended.,in ?; the. course; ofi, the inext few weeks;,tp, c',o,n : yeT;t;;,the,;preseiit' six-pens ■into, two ,iarg'(j.Q'n os.V'lt ia; also •dntend-i e(r,tO;reiiioyp,, ; the ; cattlo' to the .vacant laud ; on the,:'eflst sj.debif) the Zoo.l'urtl)cr,new,,aviari?s;a.re a.l.so:contemplated, with, an adcqu!i,te ; space in which ■ the peacock may, dispJay -the .glories. of .his' tail,;and;,;i- : circ'ular-Tish pond, below .'the clepliant.hou.se,. :/;-Ifmv-:,fracks.: are to. .be made,:and.;oljl-'oiiesrepairc<l,- and with uew'-rockeries■■'ari.d;"ftowor beds the Newtown Zoo should be brightened up considerably. ■ , ,-. If thC;Zb;b- is : to -be an asset to and | worthy of -the .capital city, there is much that might ,-be; done to make the lot ;oi" the i captives-,; happier,; but, as pointed out ibef ore,: this is a ciuestion of money. In the meantime,, it. has been suggested that a halt .should be. called in the acceptance."of new- exhibits, espeeiaily those, of . the. larger 1 kind, untilthose.that are already there are really adequately housed, new animals being received,only whe.n there is somewhere suitable:-to put-; theni...-.... ■'