LION CUBS BORN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22404, 28 April 1936, Page 12

LION CUBS BORN

PAIR AT THE ZOO OTHER NEW ARRIVALS SEALS ENJOY THEIR POND FRIENDLY SPIDER MONKEYS Besides the 12 animals from San Diego which arrived by the steamer Golden Bear on Saturday evening and have now settled into their quarters at the Auckland Zoo, are other new arrivals. Two of them have created a considerable stir. They are newly-born lion cubs, a male and a female. Their mother is an African lioness, born at the Auckland Zoo, who is a parent for the first time. Both the lion and his consort appear to be delighted with their new offspring. While the mother is naturally popular with the cubs, they also have a high regard for their father, whose mane is a favoured nestling place for them. Father is not only prepared to lend his mane in this way, but is as keen as mother in frolics with the cubs. On Sunday and again yesterday large crowds pressed close to the cage to see this charming domestic picture. Monkeys of Varied Moods The three Californian seals from San Diego yesterday greeted their pool with enthusiasm. On the voyage out they had no daily bath, a hose-down having to suffice. When released into the pool, which lias painted rocks intended to represent ice, they began to wallow, and thev have been doing that ever since. They aro a small species, barely 3ft.. in length. The new spider monkeys are quaint. It is many years since the zoo possessed this species, for they require much warmth and in winter time will have to be in specially heated quarters. Introduction to the out-of-doors is to be gradual, but two of them had an hour in the sunshine yesterday afternoon. While they sat on a gate and played with a chain, four keepers occupied the time in trying to gain the confidence of the other two spider monkeys, who climbed into the ceiling of a shed and refused to be tempted by two bright collars and chains. Bear and Wild Cats There was no shyness about the two sunbathers, however. When an attendant came to take them inside, one climbed on his shoulders, wrapped himself round the man's neck, and pretended to go to sleep. The other clasped one hand of the attendant with one of his own paws, and walked erect into the shed. Tho new black bear, a male, is in the bear pit previously occupied bv a female. They will be kept apart until the newcomer is used to his new quarters. Tho new racoon is rather shy, and when seen had huddled into hjs necklet. The cougars, more commonly called mountain lions or pumas, look rather discontented, but that is their habit. Tliev are male and female. Two African civets from the Sydney Zoo have just arrived, and are spending their days in sleep. They are wild cats whose habits are nocturnal. While their food is much of the kind favoured by the domestic cat, they are very partial- to a banana or apple. At least, the attendants say so, but as they eat only at night the public can hardly judge that for itself.