ANIMALS AND BIRDS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 April 1925, Page 16

ANIMALS AND BIRDS.

CONSIGNMENT FOR AUCKLAND ZOO. AN ATTRACTIVE COLLECTION, A total vf 60U specimens of African annual and biru ».ie were brought to AucKiand oil iue last trip of tne ..iaiaiiia from fcyuney. this collection .ml be a v auiiiOie unu -attractive acij.uou to tue AucKiiinu Zoo. in many Aspects it is unique, tor many oi the onus and an.inuas nave never been .»een before in Australia- or New Zealand. indeed, they are rare in the zoological gardens throughout the world v says the New Zealand Heraid). On August 22 of last year Mr. L. T. Jiitfin, F.Z.S., curator to the Zoo, left AucKiand lor South Africa. He was -ommissioned by the City Council to select African animals and birds, and ..n inspection o) the consignment was • vidence enough tnat he had done his .rone well. On his way to South Africa- Mr. G-riifm visited the zoos oi Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth, and he is satisfied that the Auckland Zoo will compare more, than uivoiirahly with any in Australia. He .anded at Durban on October 6, and after a short stay there, proceeded to Pretoria in the Transvaal, and he made .his town his headquarters for the selection and the purchasing of the .inimals and the birds. ‘-‘I had intended to visit Egypt, . embracing Cairo, .uid later returning to Durban, but I ound that by staying at Pretoria I ould get all the specimens of animal life I desired,” said Mr. Griffin. ‘‘So ; remained all the time in the Trans,'rta’l getting in touch with dealers and ,eneraly arranging for the stock to >e caught. Most of the stock was caught wild on he veldts of the Transvaal, in Bechlannland. or in Rhodesia, and brought o Mr. Griffin at Pretoria, where lie made the selections. Every assistance .-as given him by the authorities of the Transvaal National Zoological Gardens, '.nd tie Johannesburg, Blomfontein, nd Capetown Zoos. .The original shipment comprised 613 ipecim-ens—57 animals and 556 birds. On the voyage to New Zealand, however. 96 small birds 11 animals died. Hr. Griffin does not consider this proDortion ol loss at all serious. The loss of birds at any rate was to be expected. A Trying Journey.

As the animals stood in their cages and tiie birds fluttered m their confinements on the upper decks of the .durama, in the warm, bright sunJiine, one could hardly believe that they had been cooped up thus for jight weeks, that they had passed chiough the severest storms on , the .ourney from Durban to Sydney; and were kept on a lighter in Sydney for 22 days. Tiie consignment was shipped on the Hamburg, which cleared Durban on January 31. In the lower latitudes bitter stormy weather was encountered, and it became so bad that the captain of the vessel changed her course to the north. One day it was necessary to put oil bags over the side to prevent die waves from coming aboard and drenching the animals with the icy water.

‘‘The greatest praise is due to the captain and the crew of the Hamburg for the manner in which they looked after the animals and birds,” said Mr. ‘‘They did everything that was humanly possible., It is a .veil-known fact .that if an animal gets salt water over it and is then subjected to a cold wind it will contract pneumonia. But the consignment arived at Sydney in safety, and I do not think .than any of the animals, or birds suffered any 'great inconvenience on the voyage. Sydney was reached on March 6, alid owing to the Australian’ stock regulations the consignment was transferred to a large lighter. This lighter was moored in a sheltered bay, and the finimals remained a'board until March 28, when they were transferred to the \larama. The keeper who was engaged in Pretoria to feed and generally tend the animals was not allowed' off the lighter, and lived a Robinson Crusoe existence during the letention period. The keeper, by the way, arrived at Auckland by lb« Marama recently, ffnd will later return to Pretoria. The trip across the Tasman was made in fine weather; and the whole consignment arrived at Auckland jn splendid order. Some Rare Specimens.

The‘consignment is easily the most interesting and the most valuable that aas ever been landed in New Zealand. Children and adults alike will be deighted to learn that it includes a magnificent specimen of a bull giraffe, mly 18 months old, with a height >f 9ft. It is in fine condition, and s the first that has ever been landed .n New Zealand. It was captured in Jeehuanatand, and was- driven about OO miles to the nearest railway stain with ‘ specially made harness. A rained man was* sent to bring it om Rhodesia to the Transvaal. The ;iraffe, on account of its size, is one the most difficult animals to transport, but it arrived in Auckland in •affect condition and full of life. This giraffe has the reputation of being the est sailor on the Marama. “The cost nd trouble of catching and transport :ns made this animal worth more han £I(XX),” remarked Mr. Griffin. It expected to grow to twice its preen t lieiglit as it becomes older. There are three specimens of the angnificent gemsbok, , rare in zoos liroughout the world. This animal is .eet of foot and exceedingly difficult o catch. A Fascinating Animal. A fascinating animal is the kudu, >f which there are five. They are all .’oung, and when full size develop •normous spiral horns. The males rave a beautiful mane on the hack of ,he neck, and a small tuft hanging ■om the tin oat. They are one of the argest and fleetest of antelopes, and ire rarely seen in captivity.

The collection includes a, pair of .veird-looking black wildebeest ’or gnu, >n animal now fast becoming rare in Vfrica. They are being shot out rapidv. There are also three large irindled gnu Qr blue wildebeest: four " the noble sable antelope of savage Imposition; two of what are said to w the most graceful of all South African antelope—the impala. These ’liimals have grace and lieautv. in every line, are exceedingly fleet of c oot, and have been known to clear a 'Oft. fence at a bound. There are two very fine elands, an antelope fosely approaching the domestic cattle typo, excepting for their straight ■•'ofns. Throe fine Chapman’s Zebras nake a delightful showing. Four specimens of the South African •rented porcupine with long b'nck and vhite quills make a queer sight. Thev ire the first o £ their kind ever brought o New Zealand- or Australia. Some of- the Birds. Among the birds are to be seen four of the stately secretary birds, reiowned ns kiljers of snakes. Others comprise a gorgeous example of the Cape crowned crane, brought ns a ainte tor the one already at the Zoo; a single specimen of Ihe wattled crane, the only one available during Air.

| Griffin’s visit; a small flock of sacred ibises brought to adorn the lake at the Zoo, and a gift from, the Cape Government; many specimens of the many coloured and quaint crested liarbits, whose inquisitive ways will do much to amuse visitors; four beautiful Bateleuer eagles in full colour; two tawny eagles; white eggrets, and some 500 brilliantly coloured African finches of many hues and species. The whole consignment was unloaded from'the Marama without a mishap, and conveyed to the. Zoo in lorries. There the birds and animals will lie put into, their new homes. Some are* only temporary, but permanent accommodation will he erected for all in the near future. The confine for the giraffe is 27ft, in height. It would seem that the authorities are indeed optimists.