TARONGA PARK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17935, 14 May 1920, Page 6

TARONGA PARK

SYDNEY'S WONDERFUL ZOO. (Fkom Oub Own Cobbespondbkt.) SYDNEY, .April 13. The incoming visitor, approaching Sydney by water, will pass, unawaree, quite oloee to laronga Park. It is the biggeit and finest zoo south of the line, and one of the remarSsable zoos of the world, but it- is tucked away in a cosy bay, ion the north side of the harbour, and is so hidden under the native bush which has been permitted to remain along the northern shores that it cannot be seen .until one is right at the gates. "It is • couple of years now since this zoo was established,' and sufficient time hae passed to show that the experiment is a great success. Intead of fcho animals, birds, and reptiles 'being kept in a succession of noisome cages, they are .housed undor as nearly natural conditions as captivity will permit. . The' zoo covera a long, shorpiyaloping, well-wooded hillside., and, by concrete, water, and clever 1 planting, it has beon altered to suit the individual beast. The -various tribes of monkevs, for instance, live on small areas completely surrounded by deep .concreted pits. The monkeys can go down into the pit from the inside, but tho outer side is sheer, and smooth, and can't be climbed. Within the enclosure are great trees, many small, .warm cavea jand broken .ground, and the animate appear to thrrvo hero. Swarmg of them may t>e seen at any time in the highest tree-tops or scampering over the rocks. There are several stretdhes' of ,deep water, so ingeniously arranged that they are enclosed within rocks, are completely cut off from the pathways and from .each other, and yet may be overlooked by crowds of sightseers Here, mostly in the water, are such things as Polar bears, eea-lions and walrusfes, soils, and beavers. AmicJ masses •of rook, where lasge, dry caves are concealed, are majestic lions and tigers, whose .glare at tho passing crowds is by no means the usual -lack-lustre look of animal in captivity. • The aviaries,, made of small iron bars, are* immense—-so* large that the biggest eagles fiy about comfortably in thorn. There are special- enclosures for snakes, for jumping things— kangaroos and deer—and- for.a wide variety of fishea .

The whole place is laid out with flower beds and lawns to form a beautiful and a"ttractive park," overlooking the bush-clad hills and tho sparkling blue water of. the harbour. There ore refreshment booths and a restaurant in one .ooner, and these places provide facilities by which the casual visitor may picniot under tho trees, jn the open air. ■

frTaronga Park is already one of 'Sydney's snow places, and. an excellent ferry service, supplemented :by. trams along the North Shore, carried 10,000 there on Good Friday.* Six thousand is an average Saturday attendance. It ;s an ideal spot,for children, where they are both entertained and educated. There are regular excursions for various schools.