AXIS AND MOOSE SEEN

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1935, Page 7

AXIS AND MOOSE SEEN

REPORT FROM SOUTHLAND FORMER LIBERATED 26 YEARS AGO LITTLE HEARD OF THEM SINCE. PROSPECTOR SEES A HERD OF 15. By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, Last Night. A well-grown cow moose was at the end of last month shot near Wet Jacket Arm by a young prospector named Martin, one of a party which was investigating the mineral wealth of the territory bordering on Dusky Sound. Mr. Martin also reports that he saw a herd of axis deer in the same locality. Wet Jacket Arm runs inland from the Acheron passage, which links Dusky Sound with Breaksea Sound. It was only a few miles from the spot where the moose was killed that these giant members of the elk family were liberated on February 24, 1910, and it was at Dusky Sound that five axis or spotted deer from east India were liberated in March, 1909. The report concerning the axis deer is particularly interesting for, although it is more than 25 years since these were liberated, definite information from stalkers has been most meagre. There were approximately 15 animals in the herd seen by Mr. Martin. The axis somewhat resembles the fallow deer, but has short, sharp antlers. Its fawn coat is spotted with white.