SEA LION DEAD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 108, 8 May 1936, Page 7

SEA LION DEAD

JOEY’S LAST DAYS AT ZOO “WAS POISONED," EXPERTS SAY RESULT OF POST MORTEM ( Per Press Asset Nation. J WELLINGTON, May T. The sea lion Joey, recently brought up from Dunedin and over uuicu a iiercc controversy nus raged both iieie and in Dunedin, was disco, ered deau at the Zoo yesternay morning. “He was inoie human than he was animal,” said Air. J. Langiudg , cura.or of tne Zoo, ‘’and everyone in the Zoo had oecome fond of aim. I bad become quite attached to him and bad g r ot to know me very well and would a<- ■ ways come. When 1 called on Monday he was in the pink or condition, gambolling about nearly the whole day. Ou Alonday evening he had uis lood, eighteen pounds of it, and ate it heartily. He was in a playful humour, a 1 most until he went to bed. On day morning he swum about in the pool, but about 4.40 I received a sage that he had eaten hardly any. thing and seemed a - little sleepy. J went up to look at him and I was greatly alarmed, as frequently he would, not eat heartily, though he always made up for that atlcrwards, atd his being drowsy at times w*, A?r unccmmou , either. Late on Tuesday evening he was sleeping when I went to look , him. On M ednesday morning he wa» , missing and did not come when 1 called , and was finally found in the pond dead at about 9 a.m. “I sent for our ‘vet,’, Colonel Young, and there came with him one of the . Government veterinary surgens. The [ three of us held a post mortem and Colonel Young expressed the opinion that tile seal had been poisoned. I do not think there is any doubt about thatAccess to the pool was open to any* , body, but wo had warned people against throwing in a lot of food. ’I i.c opinion was formed that the poison was ■ eaten by him perhaps very early on the Monday morning. “From accounts I have received and from the, ■examination made of the ■ body,” said the Alayor, Air. T. C. Hislop, “the seal seemed to be in firstclass condition and his disposition seemed to be happy right up JU tu»» night before he diej. We had a veter-, inary examination made of the remains ; bv Colonel Young and we have been informed that we shall receive a certificate that, in the opinion of the vei> :• inary officer, “Joey” died of poisoning. How the poison was adininisteied I am not in a position to say, but exhaustive inquiries are being made nnd further steps are now in course of being taken.” Portion of the contents of the stomach are being sent to the Government analyst.