A FLOATING ZOO ABOARD MATAKANA.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 78, 1 April 1931, Page 16

A FLOATING ZOO ABOARD MATAKANA.

SEVENTY-TWO ANIMALS BROUGHT TO DOMINION. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, March 31. Live stock occupied all the centre space between decks on the Shaw, Savill steamer Matakana, at present loading at Wellington, on her recent voyage from England to Australia, and the officers and crew experienced all the worries of a zoo curator during the voyage The Matakana left London with 72 animals of eight species on board. The wild animals were for the Perth Zoo. In addition, there were stud cattle and sheep for other ports. The shipment included bear cubs, wild cats, pheasants, a tiger, and a puma, cows, bulls, and sheep, and all were stricken with that age-old malady of the sea. Three animals, the tiger, the puma, and a bull "died during the run out, and but for the excellent manner in which the animals were housed, and the great care taken of them, it is probable that there would have been other deaths. The consignments of stock were valuable ones, and included the largest shipment of stud Jerseys ever brought to Victoria. Two of the shorthorns and an Aberdeen Angus heifer. Witch 17 of Dartmoor, were bred by the Prince of Wales in Cornwall. Of the stud sheep, the Border Leicesters in- 1 eluded two of the highest-priced year-: ling rams at the recent Kelso show. One of the ram lambs was second prize-winner at the Manchester Royal Show*.