JAGUAR KITTENS BORN AT ZOO

Southland Times, Issue 23646, 22 October 1938, Page 8

JAGUAR KITTENS BORN AT ZOO

RARELY BRED IN CAPTIVITY PLUNKET PROBLEM FOR AUTHORITIES (Special to The Times) AUCKLAND, October 21. Something in the nature of a zoological triumph has been achieved by the birth of a pair of strong and healthy jaguar kittens at the Auckland Zoological Park. For these'animals to be bred successfully in captivity is a rarity, but the latest additions to Auckland’s Zoo family are thriving and they have already constituted a New Zealand record by being the first to survive for more than a few hours. For the zoo authorities the care of, the jaguar queen has presented almost a Plunket problem. A possible cause for the impulse of the mother to kill her kittens has been found in the results' of analysis of the milk and bones of nursing jaguar queens killed in the wild. While the milk was found to contain abnormally high contents of lime and phosphates the bones were so deficient as to be exceedingly fragile and brittle. As a result of these discoveries investigators believe that the mother actually draws on the substance of her bones to feed her kittens and when fresh supplies of calcium and phosphoric acid are unobtainable .in her food she is driven by the instinct of self-preservation to make good theloss by devouring her young. It Was stated that a comparable case was probably found in the susceptibility of a human mother to dental caries while nursing her child. The birth of kittens at Auckland initiated another zoo domestic drama. Paternal pride and remarkable interest in his nfew responsibilities were shown by (lie male jaguar. After licking the mother’s face and the kittens from head to tail he took the head of one of the twins in his mouth and carried it around the arena before returning it unharmed to the queen’s side. It was at this stage, however, that the zoo authorities took a hand for fear of accidents. It was thought well to segregate the head of the family and the mother and children are now left to work out their own salvation.