PRESENTS FOR ZOO.
ATTRACTIONS IN LONDON. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Aug. 19. Recent additions to the London Zoological Gardens which have aroused much public interest following the gift by the King of the Belgians to the Prince of Males of an okapi, which arrived at the end of July, are two manatees from the West Indies, for which a specially-designed tank like a large and luxurious bath lias been provided, and four vampire bats, also from tho West Indies.
Tlie bats are the gift of a corresponding member of the Zoological Society who caught them in Trinidad and trained them to lap defibrinated blood from a wineglass.
The manatee is the American representative of a group of herbivorous aquatic mammals. Tlie American manatee inhabits tlie rivers of Honda, Alcxico, Central America, and the West Indies, and measures from nine to 13 feet in length. The body is somewhat fish-like, ending in a broad shovel-like tail. The animals are slow of movement and perfectly harmless, but are hunted for the sake of their oil, skin, and flesh. The manatee is said to be the origin of many legends of mermaids, while the Amazonian species is tlie object of superstitious reverence by the Indians.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19350821.2.68
Bibliographic details
Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 224, 21 August 1935, Page 7
Word Count
202PRESENTS FOR ZOO. Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 224, 21 August 1935, Page 7
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Manawatu Standard. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in