AUCKLAND ZOO.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 117, 14 April 1930, Page 6

AUCKLAND ZOO.

INTERESTING ADDITIONS. TWO JAGUARS. (By Telegraph—Special to Standard., AUCKLAND, April 12. Two beautifully-marked jaguars for the Auckland Zoo, a collection of SO white rats and mice for cancer research purposes and a cat of doubtful origin that deserted front Coinamnder Byrd’s famous vessel, the City of New York, were among the .arrivals by the Commonwealth and Dominion Line steamer, Port Harding, which anchored off Motuilri this morning. The jaguars, which have been in cramped captivity since they left London 42 days ago, were none the worse for their sea voyage. Indeed, they actually put on weight under the care of the ship’s lamp trimmer. A male and a female, they hail from the Hamburg Zoo, and tlreir native habitat is Brazil. - . “Janet Jaguar” is the most ferocious of the huge “spotted oats ” and though tips crew declare that sfieN is like most women —older than she looks —she is said to be aged three years. She tips the beam at two cwt, as against “Mr Jaguar’s” three cwt. “Felix,” as tire big fellow has been christened, is only 18 months old. During the voyage he developed a sore tail, and it was found necessary to operate on him. He would not respond to morphia in his food, so he was chloroformed by Captain Enright with the aid of the lamp trimmer and Dr. N. M. Begg, a New Zealander, who is returning to aid cancer research in tire'Dominion. When all the jungle instincts of the animal had been silenced by this means, the operation was successfully performed. The jaguars arq excellent specimens and will make handsome additions to N the zoo.. The wtiite mice were col--lected by Dr. Begg, and have been r brought to New Zealand for experimental purposes. They are said to be infected with a certain-’germ unprocurable in tire Dominion, and are particularly valuable in connection with cancer research.