CREATURES OF THE ZOO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19289, 30 March 1926, Page 13

CREATURES OF THE ZOO

EMPEROR PENGUIN DIES. TOO WARM FOR ICE BIRD. BIRTH OF NILGHAI TWINS. One of the three emperor penguins, received recently by the Auckland Zoo from the Ross Sea whalers, died on Sunday. This was the female bird, which showed signs of sickness before arrival. The curator, Mr. L. T. Griffin, attributes the | death to hang trouble. Unlike the king penguin, which is widespread, flourishing as far north as the Macquaries, the emperor species never leaves the ice at Antarctica, and in the experimental attempt to acchma tise the bird in this sub-tropical zone the greatest care has been taken. The enclosure in which the birds were placed contains a pool fed by the Western Springs, the water always being cold. Trees provide shade, and generally speak ing the conditions under which they have been living have been as suitable as possible. In regard to diet the birds have been given every chance to survive the change; they have been fed on live fish. The female bird, however, slowly languished, and her laboured breathing on Saturday indicated serious lung trouble. One of the males is by no means well, and it cannot be claimed that the attempt to acclimatise them will succeed. Mr. Griffin mentions that, as with travellers returning from polar regions, birda and animals brought to a warmer climate are very liable to develop "colds," and it is a well-known fact that although polar bears, brought, from tho ico to captivity in temperate climates, enjoy heat and flourish provided they have a cold pool to swim in, their young nearly always die of pneumonia. Most polar bears born in the London Zoo die from this disease. On Sunday nilghai twins were born in the zoo. The nilghai, sometimes known as the Indian " blue bull," is the largest species of antelope found in India. Tho adult pair arrived from India about 18 months ago. Both aro young and have , settJed down into docile zoo residents. Old nilghai males, however, are often a source of trouble in zoos. They become very savage, and their fate is a bullet if a safe enclosure is not available. All the other antelopes have prospered in this climate. Six months ago the Indian blackbuck pair became a trio and the youngster is developing nicely toward maturity. Another interesting birth was that of a porcupine about a mouth ago. It is said that the infant porcupine is independent of its mother from the day of its birth. Tho specimen at tho zoo was taken from its mother and is being hand fed, and showing every sign of lusty development. The zoo authorities are to be congratulated npon the increase in the small bird particularly among the finches and doves. The game birds also have multiplied, particularly the golden, amherst and silver pheasants, peacocks and ducks. So populous has this part of the aviary become that tho building of a pheasantry is contemplated.