VANDALISM AT ZOO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18335, 27 February 1923, Page 8

VANDALISM AT ZOO.

Vi";' ■;'; .*•': i v'• '-' : v»V •'■•■ ';'■;.. ;-V-' ,' !■'■"".• FOUR DEATHS TO DATE. * ktiU'V' i±\<■■■;■ ' V COINS POISON OSTRICH.' ,". -r: ;V .. • . '>* T —i'"' J.-V ; . ; SEA-LION AND LIZARD. DAMAGE TO FLOWER-BEDS. The new Zoological Park in .Auckland has become a notorious rendezvous for a type of hooligan thai is very fortunate in being on the outside of barrel cages. Vicious instinct really places v the class ft little lower than the animals it maltreats and kills in wantonness. Further acts of vandalism at the zoo have been reported to the City Council. One of the ostriches died on Saturday as the result of copper poisoning duo to the presence of bronze money i a the bird's stomach. So far there have been four fatalities following vicious ' maltreatment and doliberate methods •of destruction. The sea-lion was shot dead deliberately by » "sportsman" with a pen-rifle; two of the quaint colony of tuatara lizards were killed rathor brutally by violent prodding with sticks tho female ostrich was » ' poisoned by a foci's diet of bronze coins, pieces of lead, aid a small coil of wires and on Sunday, a number of youths who evidently have not yet heard of Bible classes and institutions for the development of character shamefully ill-treated their "poor relations" in tho monkey house. & In addition to the serious maltreatment • of animals, ma'.iy acts of vandalism hay® been committed on inanimate things in the park. Flower beds and rockeries have been wantonly interfered with, and the picturesque creek, which should be an outstanding feature of the resort, has been fouled and littered with rubbish.' A v ' report on the death of the ostrich shows that its body contained several bronze coins, a small silver coin, two large pieces of lead, and a small ooil .of wire. "From the appearance of at least four o', the coins, it is obvious that they had been in tho bird's stomach for some ime, perhaps since as far back as December, as they showed much wear owing to grinding action." '•This vandalism must be checked with rigour," said the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, yesterday. "The Zoological Park has been Ripened for less than three months, ana already the record of mall cious treatment of the exhibits has become notorious. It was recognised that a certain amount of such conduct was inevitable until the • community realised the value and service of the zoo, but the vandalism has reached an intolerable extent. Measures must be taken without delay to prosecute oflenders, and have them adequately punished. 'f : : v "We know that a certain • class of youths are the worst offenders. Their interest in the animals is vicious, and they take delight in roughly teasing them. A stern example will "ho made of the first offender who is caught in any wanton act either against the exhibits or against property in the park, JLlie coun cil is compelled to take drastic acvon in the interest?, of defenceless animals. Thf.o will be no further warning/ to mischievous and vicious-minded '.visitors to the zoo. '• Offences • will, be met with stem punishment. The community will stand for nothing less." v V V '''