SEA LION POISONED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22413, 8 May 1936, Page 10

SEA LION POISONED

FOUND DEAD AT ZOO report by veterinarians CITY COUNCIL OFFERS REWARD [BY TELEGRAPH —PBESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday fhe sea lion Joey, which was recently brought from Dunedin, and over which fierce controversy raged, both here and in Dunedin, was discovered dead at the Wellington Zoo yesterday morning. An autopsy conducted by Colonel Young and a Government veterinarian is stated to have given such definite indications of poisoning that the City Council has offered a reward for in-> formation that may lead to the conviction of the person responsible. The curator of the zoo, Mr. J. Langridge, said there was no sign of the animal languishing, and it was in such perfect condition that it was contemplated taking it to Auckland to allow people there to see it. "Everyone in the zoo had become fond of him," said Mr. Langridge. "1 had become quite attached to him, and lie would always come when 1 called. When I went to look at him on Wednesday morning he was missing. He did not come when I called, and was finally found dead in the pond at about 9 a.m.

"I sent for our 'vet,' Colonel Young, and there came with him one of the Government's veterinary surgeons. The three of us held a postmortem, and Colonel Young expressed the opinion that the sea lion had been poisoned.'" "From the accounts 1 have received, and from the examination made of the carcase," said the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, "the sea lion seemed to be in first-class condition and his disposition seemed to be happy until the night before lie died. We have been informed that we shall receive a certificate that in the opinion of the veterinary officer Joey died of poisoning. How the poison was administered 1 am not iu a position to say, but exhaustive inquiries are being made, and further steps are now being taken." Portion of the contents of the sea lion! stomach is being sent to the Gover®» nient analvst.