‘BRING ’EM BACK ALIVE’

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19257, 17 May 1934, Page 11

‘BRING ’EM BACK ALIVE’

WILD-ANIMAL HUNTER. AN INTERESTING LIFE. SHIPWRECKED WITH ZEBRAS An interesting personality on the W r anganella, which arrived at Wellington on Wednesday from Sydney, was Mr H. Edgell, who has spent many years of his life wandering in strange and inhospitable countries hunting and capturing wild animals, birds, and reptiles for the world’s menageries. For some years Mr Edgell was manager for Carl -Hagenbcck, the famous wildanimal dealer, whose captures are to be seen in practically every zoo in the world. When met by a Post representative on board the Wanganella, Mr Edgell, who looks a typical African (wildgame hunter, was very reluctant about giving an interview. After a little persuasion, however, lie agreed to a “friendly chat," hut added as he settled himself on a settee, “I have been made out such a liar in the past that I have had to be introduced to myself.”

One gathered from Mr Edgell’s early remarks that he had had a particularly exciting and adventurous life, but on being prompted a little he lapsed ifrto silence with the remark that his life had not been particularly unusual ahd its incidents were “not of much interest to anybody." He implied, too, that he did not place much faith in newspapermen because they were wont to distort facts. Ho was assured that this was not the case here. Rare. Animal Saved. Mr Edgell said that he captured most of the wild animals in East Africa, and often travelled on the same ship with them to their port of disembarkation. On one occasion he had been detailed to accompany thirty African zebras to St. Louis, where ho was to train them before the public at an exhibition. lie explained that the reason for ibis was lo try to create a demand for this animal. The ship on which he was travelling with the, zebras, however, was wrecked off Cape Sagrez, Portugal. For three nights and two days he remained on (he ship in an endeavour to rescue the zebras and other animals which were abroad, and his efforts were successful lo (lie extent that he saved eight zebras, several other animals, birds, reptiles, and the first specimen ever captured of a rare species of bush buck, called Tragclaphus speckei. This particular animal, lie said, was captured by Mr Russell Roberts, a British explorer, at Lake Moero, German East Africa. The menagerie was rescued in fishing boats and was landed at Port Demar, the centre of the sardine industry of Portugal. Shortly after, the wreck, Mr Edgell met Don Carlos, the then King of Portugal, who, with his eldest son, was assassinated in Lisbon In 1908. With the surviving animals, Mr Edgall left Lisbon for England, and being determined to save the rare bush buck he kept it in his cabin with him. When surprise was expressed at this, Mr Edgell only .smiled and said. “I am very fond of animals, you know.” Permit to Export Refused. Mr Edgell said that one of his reasons for visiting Australia was to acquire specimens of wild life, but owing lo the opposition of the Government he was unable to take anything out of the country. He had been asked by the curator of the London Zoo lo obtain two platypuses and two kookaburras, but the Australian Government would not give him a permit to export even these. “This broke me up,” he said, “and now I am returning to England with a rare New Guinea cockatoo, which I have had for nineteen years, and two Australian terriers. I could not see any reason for not allowing me to take these specimens out of the country it was sheer cussedness. I also had a chance of acquiring an albino galah, a rare type of the Australian resale cockatoo.’ If ever I come back to Australia it will be after opals." Samples of opals he had iound In Australia were shown to Press representatives by Mv -Edgell, who stated that lie had some fine and rare stones which he intended presenting to the British Museum. One specimen, lie said, was a complete oyster opalised, while another perfect stone weighed one and a quarter pounds. Asked what he intended to do when he returned to England, Mr Edgell said that he would probably breed shooting- dogs and set up a small zoo of his own. .