TREACHERY IN ZOO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21239, 20 July 1932, Page 13

TREACHERY IN ZOO.

&ISKS RUN BY KEEPERS.

MANY FEROCIOUS ANIMALS.

[TIGERS, LEOPARDS AND BEARS.

UNSAFE TO JUDGE BY LOOKS

Tho jappoaranco recently of a lionteeper' at tho Auckland Zoological Park talking about with a bandaged hand was an Ugly reminder of the dangers lurking behind cage bars and the risks taken by keepers in their dealings with pugnacious animals. For while a keeper's duties aro strictly defined —ho is, for instance, forbidden to enter a cage with a lion or a {jg er —safety rules have occasionally to he bnpken and risks taken. During a walk through the zoo yesterdav one of the keepers had a disturbing tale tell of animal treachery. "These black leopards are by far the worsttempered animals," lie said. "No matter how considerately you treat them, nor how well you feed them, they will never make friends with you. You daren't even put your fingers through the bars for fear they'll spring at you." The two black cat-like creatures, as though to confirm this unfavourable judgment upon their character, immediately laid back their ears and snarled without stopping for five minutes. ■ ' if Stroking the Tiger. "Now the lions are not nearly as black as they are painted by the great majority of the public," continued the keeper. "Those lions which are zoo-bred are very decent fellows who will come to you when you call them by name. Of course, they get to know their keepers, or rather to recognise the zoo uniform, and we seldom have the slightest trouble in getting them to do-what we want. The junglebred lion over there is u different proposition ; he still refuses to r&ognise man as his master. "If,you want a really ugly brute commend me to the tiger. We have really been very fortunate in tho matter of accidents: no serious accident has ever occurred in the Auckland Zoo; but more than ,one keeper has known what it is to get nis hand mawled by a tiger. We have strict instructions to feed the tigers with a fork, but there are occasions when a chap gets a bit careless and takes an unjustified risk. And the tiger never gives you warning. He just strikes down- ; ward with his paw. Of course, when ' they're young you can stroke them like this."

Two snarling tigers bad come close to the bars and the keeper, stretching out his hand; smoothed the forehead of one and tickled the chin of the other. They did not look very young in size, nor very amiable, but the keeper said they were 18 npnths old and very playful. Meeting a Polar Bear.

"What is the most dangerous animal in the zoo?" The keeper pondered for a while. "Well," ho replied, thoughtfully, "if all the animals were let loose, I think the one I'd fear to meet most would be the polar bear. There is 110 nonsenso about him. If he decides to go for you there is way of frightening him or getting out of his" way. He knows no fear and just comes for you like, a bull at a fence. When lie gets close to you he rears up on his hind legs and bites at your head, inflicting horrible wounds. The brown bears are just as formidable, but the black quite different. They are very friendly beasts and we usually go into their den and feed them by hand." The timid antelope is a very deceptive animal. The attendants keep a warv eye when they go near him, for although he Jooks tame and harmless, they never know when he may give a sudden sweep of his head, and the injuries inflicted by his horns have been known to cause death. Even the diminutive species of antelope, the Natal bluebuck, which never grows higher than 2ft., and looEs the most inoffensive creature, is held in great awo by the keepers. They make it a rule never to catch these animals in their hands, for when they struggle they can inflict ugly wounds with their small pointed horns and their tiny hoofs have sharp edges that cut the flesh like a razor. The Anteater'a Claw. "Some people profess to sneer at the nnteafer, just because it eats ants, but they don't know as much about that treacherous gentleman as I do," said the keeper. "If you look at him carefully you will see a powerful inner claw. He uses that for fighting and digging up roots and no creatul'e in the animal kingdom knows,how to use a claw better than he does. That claw can tear a man's leg from knee to ankle. } es, sir. Your motto may well be 'Beware of the anteater !' "

The hippopotamus is another deceptivelooking beast that can at times be a formidable enemy of man. Watching the keeper enter his den to feed him, one would imagine him to be perfectly innocuous. but the keeper is always ready to r6n and never stays in the den longer than is necessary. One bite and a man would be crushed to death, while if the Infuriated animal can drag his victim to the water a certain death by drowning is his fate. Tactics of the Bull Bison. "Never trust a bull bison," was the keeper's next warning. "When enraged be is worse than a tiger. He would think nothing of turning upon a stranger, and we have instructions to be very careful When feeding him. In cleaning up his paddock avo have to see first of all that be is thoroughly engrossed in his dinner. "The Rocky Mountains goat is also a pood animal 'to keep away from. He is far 'more powerful than he looks, and if he rushes you and butts you in the back with his massive shoulders and horns it is all up with you. .At least, it will take you half an hour to recover your breath and vour consciousness. Monkeys, as all children know, can bo extremely treacherous. Even when they appear in their most friendly mood they are liable to turn upon the hand that feeds them. The mandrills and baboons, although very docile and playful when young, become morose as they grow oire and can never be regarded as trustworthy. Danger in the Aviary.

Even flic aviary is "ft altogether a haven of peace and sweet temper. Eagles and hawks can inflict serious wounds wi h their beaks or their talons Those in the Auckland Zoo are particularly-amiable but the attendants never attempt to catch them by band. Both the ostrich and cassowary are notorious for then su bouts of pugnacity and a kick * l cassowary's clawed- heel can be pni icu IniTv dangerous. „ In captivity elephants are usually the friendliest of animals, a perfect example being Jamuna in the Auckland Zoo. >. Ie is so good-natured that children won perfectly safe if they actually lay < own beneath her feet. The male elephant however, is not so trustworthy. on occasion he knocked a keeper dowtw not., St is explained, in a fit of bad einpei, but just because, his manner of playfulness is rough. A rough elephant, however, is not, exactly relished by the zoo authorities, rind for the time bring Rajah IS no allowed lo give rides to the children.