“JOEY’S” DEATH

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 May 1936, Page 9

“JOEY’S” DEATH

LAST HOURS DESCRIBED [I’EK I’KESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON. May ”

The sea lion, Josy, recently brought from Dunedin, and over which fierce controversy has raged both here and in Dunedin, was discovered dead at th? Zoo yesterday morning.

“He was more human than he was animal,” said Mr. .1. Langridge, curator of the Zoo, “and every one in .the Zoo had become fond of him. 1 had become Quite attached to him, and he had got to know me very well, and would always come when I called. On Monday he was in the pink of condition, gambolling about nearly the whole day. On Monday evening he had bis food -eighteen pounds of it and ate it heartily- He was in a playful humour almost until he went to bed. On Tuesday morning he swam about the pool, and about ‘1.40 1 received a message that he had eaten hardly any thing, and seemed a little drowsy, went up to look at him, and I was not greatly alarmed, as frequently he would not cat heartily, though ho always made up for that afterwaids, and his being drowsy at times was not uncommon either. Late on Tuesday evening he was sleeping. When I went to look at him on Wednesday morning, ho was missing. He did not come when I called, and he was finally found in the pond dead, at about 9 ;i.m. 1 sent for our ‘Vet.,’ Colonel Young, and there camo with him one of the Government veterinary surgeons. The three of us held a post mortem and Colonel Aoung cxpiesscd the opinion that the seal had been poisoned. Ido not think there is any doubt about that. Access to the pool was open to anybody, but we had warned people against throwing in a lot of food. The opinion was formed that poison was eaten by him, perhaps very early on Monday morning. “I-’rom accounts I have received and from the examination made of the body,” said Mayor Hislop, “the seal! seemed to be in first-class condition, and his disposition seemed to be happy right up till the night before he-died. Wo had a veterinary examination made of the remains by Colonel Young, and we have been informed that we shall receive a certificate that in the ('Pinion of the veterinary officer, ‘Joey’ died of poisoning. How the poison was administered, 1 am not in a position to sav, but exhaustive inquiries are being made, and furthei 'iteps are now in the course of being aken.”.

Portions of the contents of the stomch are being sent to the Government malyst.