TRAGEDY AT SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22517, 7 September 1936, Page 10

TRAGEDY AT SEA

BEAR KILLS MONKEY

FATE OF STEAMER'S PET NEW ANIMAL FOR ZOO Guilty of having committed murder during the voyage and yet openly welcomed by various authorities, including a sergeant of police, a little but robust Malayan Sun bear, tho most recent acquisition of tho Auckland Zoo, arrived by tho Narbada from Singapore on Saturday morning. Tho bear's victim was a little monkey which belonged to the ship's fourth officer.

With somo few months' seniority Ginnie, the monkey, who was rapidly assuming tho role of ship's mascot, somewhat resented the intrusion of tho bear and from the day when ho was put on board at Singapore Ginnio commenced to bully hint. With his comic expressions and playful habits the bear was a general favourite. Ho was duly christened Bulo. Ginnio was jealous and even malicious.

Bulo has a pedigree.. He is considered a fine specimen of his race and was selected from many others of his kind at tho Mavfield Kennels and Zoological Park at Singapore for transhipment to Auckland. Ginnie, on the other hand, was just a monkey. She eaino from no special stock and boasted of no special mission. There was a social barrier between tho pair.

If Bulo, soothed by the fresh sea air and tropical sun, fell asleep * Ginnie would stealthily stalk him and with a terrific swing would box his ears and then retreat. Ono morning about a week ago Bulo and Ginnie were left as usual in their coops on a sheltered hatch-cover aft of the funnel. Not a sound was heard but a few hours later Bulo was found engaged in a ghastly toilet. Ho was bespattered with blood and there was a carnivorous glint in his dark, beady eyes. In tho corner of the coup lay Ginnie, her body somewhat mutilated.

Ginnie had evidently ventured too closo and Bulo had dragged her through the bars to her doom. Ginnie had not died without a struggle. Bulo is still bald in patches and has a few battle scars. Most pompous, Bulo forcibly resisted all attempts to photograph him on Saturday. He turned his back on the camera, shielded his face with his paws, and, with amazing suppleness, bit and scratched all who tried to hold him. It was at his own convenience, after ho had dined, that he stood upright, posed perfectly, and with a final contemptuous glance shuffled away.