DEATH OF OSTRICH

Southland Times, Issue 25709, 19 July 1943, Page 4

DEATH OF OSTRICH

Fifty Coins In Crop (Special) AUCKLAND, July 18. Fifty coins were found in the crop of an ostrich which has died of copper poisoning at the Auckland Zoo. The coins comprised 34 pennies, 11 halfpennies, four threepenny pieces and a five cent piece. “The bird was brutally murdered, said the curator, Lieutenant-Colonel E. R. Sawer. He expressed anger at the thoughtlessness of visitors who fed such articles to the exhibits. “People should, realize that by giving coins to an ostrich they are condemning it to a wretched, lingering death by copper poisoning,’ The coins taken from the crop were worn down to thin discs by the processes of digestion. The amount of poison matter absorbed into the birds system must have been considerable. This is the third ostrich lost at the Zoo through the same cause in the past few years, and it was the last of the species on exhibition. Its death is particularly regretted for the replacement of such an attractive exhibit is impossible at present. During its history the Zoo has. lost many valuable birds and animals through foolish acts by visitors. Some years ago a hippopotamus, which cost £5OO, died after attempting to swallow a tennis ball which someone had thrown in its mouth.