EASTER AT ZOO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21765, 3 April 1934, Page 10

EASTER AT ZOO

HOLIDAfY PLAYGROUND FUN FOR THE CHILDREN WIDE VARIETY OF INTERESTS ANIMALS AT MEAL TIME "Mummy, I haven't seen any squirrels or giraffes to-day," said the little hoy in a tone of mild complaint. "No, dear," said his mother absently. "I don't know if they have any giraffes here. I think they used to. . . ." Her voice trailed off, but Tommy did not pursue the subject. He had seen so much —lions, tigers, polar bears, the big hippopotamus and his wife, little monkeys scampering over the rocks. And he had had a ride on the elephant! The Auckland Zoo had more children running about its paths yesterday than for many a day. There had been numbers on Saturday, but Easter Monday offered fewer counter-attractions. The bright autumn day brought out many tired mothers who might have been daunted by summer heat. They picnicked on the grass or sat on seats while the children scurried from the bird.", to the bears and back again. Fathers in holiday blazers walked abot", a child holding each hand, and did f 'icir best to answer endless question:,. The typical New Zealand small boy, cap on the back of his head and socks down about his ankles, stood before the wire-netting in groups of two or three and speculated whether the great anteater would hurt you if you went into his den. When the red and yellow macaw hung head downward from the wires and swore hoarsely in parrot language—zoo parrots are not allowed to swear in English—he said it was "bosker." Feeding-time The monkeys chained to their tall poles with the little round platform on top were a big temptation. One need only climb over a low rail to play with them, but the notice-board said you mustn't, and after all, they were not too friendly-looking, and might bite. Young New Zealand decided not to try. The best time of the day—if one left out the elephant-rides—was three o'clock feeding-time. The keeper with his barrow full of meat, visited the lions first, and didn't they roar! There was hardly time to watch the squabbles among the family in the big pit, for it was the tigers' turn next. They did not make so much noise, for Nature docs not let them roar, but it was fine to hear them crunching bones. Then came the polar bears, so clever at catching pieces of meat in mid-air and swallowing them whole without even a single bite. Now and then a piece would be thrown wide and the nearest bear would dive into the water after it and climb out, dripping. A big slab apiece with lots of ribs in it took longer to deal with, and while the bears were busy the keeper threw small schnapper into the pool one after another. The big white bears took no notice. They eat fish after meat, not before, as people do. The Hippos' Luncheon In the pits near by the brown and black bears did not seem at all hungry. They did not hurry to get their ration of bread-and-honey and carrots sliced in two. Perhaps visitors had thrown them too much cake. Chaka and Bella, who are allowed to live in the same hippopotamus pool now that their son Pondo has gone to Australia, were quite ready for lunch. While the keeper was making branmash in the big troughs, Bella came close to the bank and opened her mouth so wide that you could see right down her throat. She seemed quite to like being rubbed on the nose with tbc end of a bicycle pump. When Bella climbed out for her meal, Chaka wanted to come too, and had to be scolded to keep him in the water until his own food was mixed. The Two Elephants Jamuna has been carrying children about the park for years, and she was kept busy with hardly a break for two hours after lunch. Boys and girls waited in crowds at the loading platform, and when the ride was over most of them went into the elephant house, if they had not been already, to see Rajah, who is a foot or more taller than Jamuna. Ho has grown since he came to the zoo three years ago. and probably will grow more, for elephants do not reach their full size until they are at least 25 years old. Rajah has not been trained to carry children on his back, and is only to be looked at. There were endless interesting birds and animals to see, not to mention lunch under the trees, ice cream and the swings near the elephant house. The little monkeys i;n the large round pit were alwayn amusing as they ehased each other over the rock-pile in graceful leaps or squabbled about pieces of food. Grown-ups as well as children enJoyed this and tho rest of the sights. The holiday showed that Auckland is fortunate in having such a fine Zoological Park, and that Aucklanders of all ages really appreciate it.