PRESERVATION OF GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21247, 29 July 1932, Page 11

PRESERVATION OF GAME

RECENT SUCCESS IN CANADA PICTURES OF ANIMAL LIFE Three particularly interesting films of wild animal life in Canada were shown at a meeting of the Auckland Zoological Society last evening. Jhe president, Mr. F. E. McKenzie, said it was the aim of the local society to carry into effect some of the measures already adopted in Canada for the preservation of native bird life by the dedication of numerous sanctuaries. The first of the three films, which were exhibited by Mr. L. W. Delph, dealt with the scenic beauties of Banff, the famous Canadian resort. In the second picture the habits of the beaver were shown in detail, the camera-man having secured views of the playful little animals both in the water and on land. It was explained that an Indian and his squaw had succeeded in taming the beavers in one district to a remarkable degree and they were shown playing with the animals, which came from the water at a call. In the final film the remarkable success of preservation methods in Canada was illustrated. Many varieties of animal, which were threatened with extinction only a few years ago, were shown in laTge numbers, extremely tame and wandering at large in a park through which many hundreds of motor-cars drive daily. A commenfary on the films was supplied by Mr. Delph. A short address on bird life in Canada was given by Mr. R. A. Falla, who mentioned the differences between New Zealand and Canadian birds in general. One peculiarity of Western Canada was that the bird population differed according to the seasons, there being found in turn migratory birds passing through the district, a number of tropical varieties and finally the hardy winter birds which endured the extreme cold. In Western Canada there were found some of the migratory birds known in New Zealand, including the godwit, a few of which found their way to Canada after the great migration from the north of New Zealand. Reproductions of a number of paintings by Major A. Brooke, the eminent authority on bird life, were displayed and attracted the interest of members.