ADDITIONS TO ZOO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23221, 15 December 1938, Page 16

ADDITIONS TO ZOO

ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND SHIPMENT FROM AMERICA SHEEP THAT BROKE LOOSE One of the largest consignments for the Auckland Zoo for a considerable time was received from the San Diego Zoological Gardens yesterday In the Union Company's motor-ship Limerick. Comprising animals, birds and reptiles, the shipment covered a large portion of one of the ship's decks. The cases were protected against the weather during the voyage by an awning. The only incidents on the journev across the Pacific, apart from the deaths of two pintail ducks and a snow goose, were caused by one of a pair of young mouilon sheep. Early in the voyage the animal butted down an end of its crate and bounded along the ship's decks. Braving its formidable horns, the crew managed by weight of numbers to bring it down. The animal was then allowed to spend the remainder of the trip on a small amount of deck space at the end of a tether, and in the passage of time it became comparatively friendly. Before it was crated again yesterday a visitor who approached too closely was butted as a warning to keep his distance. In addition to the sheep, the consignment landed comprised two whitefronted geese, one large snow goose, a pair of horned owls, a pair of mon-key-faced owls,two pintail ducks, a male kinkajou (an American cat-like miinal), three pairs of spider monkeys, a pair of allegators. and a box of six painted terrapins.