SEA LION'S HOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22391, 11 April 1936, Page 14

SEA LION'S HOME

THE WELLINGTON ZOO TRANSFER FROM DUNEDIN MUCH PUBLIC INTEREST SHOWN [ BY TETKCBAPH —I'RESP ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Friday The St. Clair sea lion, Joey, arrived from Dunedin by the steamer Waitaki this morning and was soon accommodated in his new quarters at the Newtown Zoo, where he was the object of great interest by tho public throughout the day. Joey was brought from Dunedin in a special crato and passed the time on the trip sleeping and weeping, and touched little food. In his pond at the zoo, however, ho revived in spirit and later sat tip and took nourishment.

CAPTURE AT TOMAHAWK ASLEEP UNDER A HOUSE The sea lion was captured at Tomahawk, near Dunedin, on Tuesday. It had boon aslcop under a house, tho occupier of which had been severely bitten oil the arm tho previous day in preventing the sea lion from actually entering the house. Si uce its first appearance at St. Clair, near Dunedin, in September of last year, thousands of peoplo had made a »niore or less intimate acquaintance with the sea lion during its stay there. It was at first an unobtrusive stranger, hut apparently familiarity bred contempt, and it changed its nature and became obtrusive and something of a nuisanco. Tho actual cause of the change may be a matter for conjecture. COhdemncd to death, it had a lastminuto reprieve from the Minister of Marine, the Hon. P. Fraser, and it was decided that it should be captured and placed in the zoo at Wellington. A Drainage Board inspector and five assistants went to Tomahawk on Tuesday to make the capture, but before the large crate in which it was intended to imprison the sea lion could be placed in position against the exit from under the house, Joey awoke and waddled out. However, a coat laid down by one of tho men attracted his attention and he commenced ruhbing his head on it. The man pulled the coat away, much to the annoyance of Joey, who at the time was in a nasty mood. The sea lion followed. The man dangled the coat in front of him. Joey pursued and was inveigled right into tho mouth of the crate, which was immediately closed on him.