CAPTIVE SEA LION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22399, 21 April 1936, Page 13

CAPTIVE SEA LION

S.P.C.A. DEMANDS RELEASE QUESTION .OF PRINCIPLE A request that Joey, the sea-lion which was recently captured near Dunedin and placed in the zoo at Wellington, should be given his liberty, is to be made to the Minister of Marine, the Hon. P. Fraser, by the Wellington branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "Information placed before the S.P.C.A. indicated that it was clearly necessary to remove the sca-lion from its self-appointed habitat at Dunedin," said Mr. G. Mitchell, president of the branch. "Members of my society were convinced that all concerned with the transport of the animal to Wellington, and with the care of it at Newtown, have been most humane and kindly in their treatment of it. But the S.P.C.A. is on principle opposed to the confinement of animals in unnatural conditions.

"Members are of the opinion that the sea-lion should have been put on board one of the vessels going down to Stewart Island, and there liberated. It would then, no doubt, have found a mate, and continued to _ live the natural life of a wild sea-lion. "We intend to ask the Minister responsible to take steps immediately to give this kindly animal its liberty, m some suitable place. "S.P.C.A. members consider, moreover, that however kind and considerate the attendants at the zoo may be, the sea-lion will not live long 111 captivity there." Joey is proving a source of revenue to the Wellington City Council. During the Easter holiday period from April 8 to 13 (inclusive), the revenue received at the zoo gates amounted to £l6l 5s 3d, which is at the rate of £32 a day. For the same period last year the receipts were £lO5 2s 6d. Tho city treasurer, Mr. C. Collins, says there are no Faster receipts at the zoo to compare with n Joey s year.