ROARING LIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19736, 8 September 1927, Page 11

ROARING LIONS.

NOISES AT THE ZOO. A MELBOURNE COMPLAINT. [FROM OTJR OWN CORRESPONDENT-] SYDNEY. Aug. 80. The welfare of the lions in the Melbourne Zoo is being looked after. For years they have been pacing up sjid down small cages—cages in which they have had scarcely room to turn around. And visitors—especially those who have seen the wonderful accommodation provided for the lions at the Auckland Zoo and the Sydney Zoo—have pitied the animals.

At almost every annual meeting of the council of the Melbourne Zoological Society, the question has been considered of giving the lions a fairer deal, but lack of money has been the chief obstacle. The council has really got to work now, however, and the task of providing better accommodation is going ahead. Ia the meantime the lions have been shifted to another portion of the Zoo. They have more leg-room there, and they are voiceing their gratitude in joyous roars. J* last they are happy.

Unfortunately, the humaq residents of the neighbourhood are not happy, They have been voicing their protests to tha director of the zoo. The lions, they say, roar more at night now. "In their natural state lions start prowling for food ■at midnight," says one angry complainant, "I do not mind their'prowling, but I do object to their- spoiling my sleep. They make a fearful noise." So there's a problem -a worried director!