TAKEN TO ZOO

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4348, 27 October 1950, Page 5

TAKEN TO ZOO

HIKUTAIA SEA LEOPARD CAPTURED ON THURSDAY NOT HARD TO CATCH The sea .leopard, which has been living in the stream in 'the Manatoto valley recently, was captured on Thursday afternoon by officers from ftihie Auckland zoo and removed to the zoo. Residents of the district displayed considerable interest in the decision to capture the sea leopard and when the three men from the zoo commenced operations just after mid-day there was a number of people assembled.' The first attempt to catch the animal was not entirely successful, the three men wading .up the stream dragging a net, but the sea leopard merely swam down to within a length of the net and then swirled away back up stream.

Mr Victor McCollum, a young Hikutaia resident, then entered the stream and beating the water with a stick, drove the sea leopard into the net but the men holding it were not quick enough and the animal again escaped. Messrs A. A. McCollum, A. Sutton and Vincent Smith joined Mb Victor McCollum in the stream and using willow sticks attempted to force the sea leopard into the net, but the animal worked its way along the bank up stream although the men had willow sticks under it practically lifting it up out of the water. Again the sea leopard got clear and escaped up stream, but Mr Victor McCollum followed it closely and when the animal’attempted to turn at the far end of the pool and while still in shallow water he caught it by the tail and started to pull ’it out of the stream. He was quickly assisted by Messrs A. A. McCollum', A. Sutton and V. Smith and the sea leopard was dragged on to a rocky bank and held by the tail until the men- from the zoo were able to cov'er it with a net. .It was then turned over on its back and the net tied up like a bag. With the assistance of the local people the- animal was carried across the stream, loaded on to the lorry, covered with a large tarpautfn and after the canvas had been thorough saturated with water the party set out on the return journey to the Auckland zoo, the whole operation being completed in under half an hour.

Mr A. G. Barrett, foreman of the Auckland zoo was in charge of the party.