The Australasian Zoo & Circus Animals

Historical Journal Issue 1 April 2011 Stories of the long since forgotten animals formerly in our Australasian Zoos and Circuses FREE to download

On September 17 1925 news broke across the nation that a leopard, was missing from her enclosure at the Auckland Zoo, and had been for at least a day or so before the news had been released. A young female leopard, which arrived last week from India

for the Auckland Zoo, has escaped from her den, but it is not

yet known whether she is lying concealed in the grounds or

has managed to get out of the Zoo enclosure. The animal

was not seen in the den yesterday afternoon when an atten-

dant visited it to feed her and her mate, but little notice was

taken of her non-appearance; then, as it was thought she

was keeping out of sight.

This morning, however, it was discovered that she had

disappeared' from the den and a search of the grounds was

immediately organised, but without any success. Whether she

has escaped from the precincts of the Zoo or not is not yet

known, but at a late hour to-night she had not been located.

- Evening Post 18 September 1925

Immediately the residents of Auckland were all in a panic, wondering just when the spotted peril would leap out and grab them as they passed by. An extensive search soon led the well armed would be leopard hunters to a nearby tannery “….After considerable search the animal was traced to a

tannery a short distance from the Zoo. As soon as the au-

thorities got word of the suspicious tracks a large party was

organised and the tannery was surrounded and thoroughly

searched Standing at the end of a ridge, the tannery is practi-

cally isolated, and on both sides of the ridge the ground falls

away rapidly, and. except on top is covered with scrub and

other growth forming a jungle thick enough to hid a whole

family of leopards. It was thought, however, that a runaway

which does not like daylight and prefers to do her foraging

after dark would be sure to be hiding under the (tannery

buildings, which at the back are well off the ground, leaving'

quite a lot of room between it and the floor. Two fowling

pieces and a repeating rifle formed the armoury of the

search party and in addition there were half a dozen

beaters…..”

A few men braved the risk of getting in under the boards of the tannery with torches to see if there was any trace of the missing leopard “..“..“..“..Even when one is assured that the leopard; is a more or

less gentle sort of animal, and will not attack human beings

unless at bay, it must require a certain amount of pluck to

take a torch in your hand, and so rummaging, about in the

dark under a tannery floor, and when not quite sure of the

correct attitude of leopards at bay. Nevertheless, the

searchers dived in between a couple of broken boards and

thoroughly ransacked the supposed hiding place. Evidently

some of them had every faith in the amiability of the missing

feline, for one of them had nothing more formidable than an

acetylene lamp which was not very enthusiastic as far as the

flame went, and a ti-tree "waddy."

“..Another man was content, to put' his trust in a pick han-

dle, while yet a third had a long- handled shovel. Several

electric torches and the acetylene lamp were reinforced by a

couple of huge home-made candles with rope for wick,

In September 1925 a female Asiatic Leopard made her escape In September 1925 a female Asiatic Leopard made her escape In September 1925 a female Asiatic Leopard made her escape In September 1925 a female Asiatic Leopard made her escape from Auckland Zoo. The hunt for the missing leopard caused from Auckland Zoo. The hunt for the missing leopard caused from Auckland Zoo. The hunt for the missing leopard caused from Auckland Zoo. The hunt for the missing leopard caused Auckland residents to sleep uneasily for almost a month while Auckland residents to sleep uneasily for almost a month while Auckland residents to sleep uneasily for almost a month while Auckland residents to sleep uneasily for almost a month while the authorities search in vain for their quarry. 25 years later, in the authorities search in vain for their quarry. 25 years later, in the authorities search in vain for their quarry. 25 years later, in the authorities search in vain for their quarry. 25 years later, in 1950, a second female leopard also made her dash for 1950, a second female leopard also made her dash for 1950, a second female leopard also made her dash for 1950, a second female leopard also made her dash for freedom. freedom. freedom. freedom.

A TALE OF TWO LEOPARDSA TALE OF TWO LEOPARDSA TALE OF TWO LEOPARDSA TALE OF TWO LEOPARDS

leopard might be expected, to make a break, but minutes

wore on and nothing happened.' By and by the searchers

came, out into the' daylight again, but there was no sign of

"the cat." Having convinced themselves that she was not

there, the party put out their candles and lamps, and then

went' off down the slopes of the ridge on which the tannery

stands.

-Evening Post 19 September 1925

With no sign found of the feline at large the search was suspended. The Evening Post reported on 21 September That the leopard had already had five nights of liberty with Zoo attendants armed with rifles being stationed around the area at strategic points in the hope perhaps that their quarry might be yet found. The Evening post the next day reported that the big cat had been spotted in a garden in Mt Albert before leaping off and vanishing out of sight. The leopard which, escaped from the Auckland Zoo last

week has evaded all, efforts to capture it. The animal was

seen in a garden at Mount Albert, and made off stealthily

into neighbouring cover, says a telegram from Auckland. A

close watch is being kept, and efforts will be made to capture

the animal alive.

- Evening Post 22 September 1925

Consideration was made as to whether or to get out the hounds from the Pakuranga Hunt Club to try and flush the renegade out. Mounted Constable Cook and the master of the hounds Bullock Webster went over the ground where the leopard was last seen and decided the ground was too rough. “….A suggestion to use the Pakuranga hounds in. the

broken country where the leopard is supposed to be lurking;

was made yesterday, but today Mr. Bullock Webster, master

of hounds, accompanied by Constable Cook, went over the

ground, and decided that until some definite news of the

leopard having been seen in open country was received it

,would be useless to think of using the hounds. Where the

animal is, supposed, to be in hiding is very broken-country,

in which it would be impossible to use the pack. There are

wild cats in the rocky rough' country, and these, animals are

often much larger than domestic cats. “

- Evening Post 24 September 1925

Cook with his experience of spending time in India also dismissed the notion that the leopard had been in the garden of a local minister in Mt Albert. “….Being familiar with the spoor of leopards in India, and

after having seen - the mate it the Auckland Zoo, Mounted

Constable Cook says he is of opinion that nobody has seen

the missing leopard. He spent some years in India before

coming to New Zealand …”

“...As for the spoor reported at Mount Albert, he never saw

anything larger, than that of a good-sized cat…” - Evening Post 25 September 1925

With time passing the leopard still on the loose, the Auckland City Council decided to post a reward on the wayward cat of £20 alive or £10 as a carcass. The Evening Post of 25 September was quick enough to note : - “..The decision of the Auckland City Council to put a price

on the head of the missing, leopard— £20 alive or £10 as a

carcass—makes the capture worth about a shilling a: spot .It

may help to appease the public mind, but doubtless if the ani-

mal or its carcass is not soon recovered an agitation for an

increase in the reward may be anticipated, telegraphs, "The

Post's" correspondent…..”

A circus of opinions too had begun to circulate as the same

report recounts

“…. One newspaper co-respondent, who signs himself

"Wake Up, Auckland writes: "One is inclined to wonder if it

is a harmless rabbit that has escaped from our Zoo, by the

apparent apathy of the authorities. It is true that the leopard

is as yet only a baby, but babies have a habit of growing and

if the beast is allowed to remain at large what summer

“It's a far cry from the wilds, of the Indian jungle to “It's a far cry from the wilds, of the Indian jungle to “It's a far cry from the wilds, of the Indian jungle to “It's a far cry from the wilds, of the Indian jungle to the Auckland Zoo. There is a tremendous the Auckland Zoo. There is a tremendous the Auckland Zoo. There is a tremendous the Auckland Zoo. There is a tremendous difference, too between life there and here. “difference, too between life there and here. “difference, too between life there and here. “difference, too between life there and here. “ “At all events that is perhaps what struck the “At all events that is perhaps what struck the “At all events that is perhaps what struck the “At all events that is perhaps what struck the female leopard which arrived at the northern capi-female leopard which arrived at the northern capi-female leopard which arrived at the northern capi-female leopard which arrived at the northern capi-tal last week aboard the Sussex from tal last week aboard the Sussex from tal last week aboard the Sussex from tal last week aboard the Sussex from Calcutta.”Calcutta.”Calcutta.”Calcutta.” “ She was in her new quarters in captivity for only “ She was in her new quarters in captivity for only “ She was in her new quarters in captivity for only “ She was in her new quarters in captivity for only two days when she disappeared and was not seen two days when she disappeared and was not seen two days when she disappeared and was not seen two days when she disappeared and was not seen for a week afterwards.”for a week afterwards.”for a week afterwards.”for a week afterwards.” ---- NZ Truth NZ Truth NZ Truth NZ Truth 26 September 192526 September 192526 September 192526 September 1925

picnic grounds are going to be safe? Are we to wait until a

baby or a valued Persian cat or Pomeranian has been taken

and devoured before definite and systematic action is

taken?..."

“Another correspondent writes: "May I point out the danger

of keeping leopard in any open to the sky enclosure? No

other wild animal approaches them in climbing powers; they

can run up the smoothest and straightest tree trunk and will

scale a rock precipice that would baffle a wild goat, while

their springing powers are tremendous. At large they, are

probably the most destructive and dangerous of all predatory

animals."

- Evening Post 25 September 1925

In its own typical fashion Wellington based NZ Truth launched a scathing criticism, of the seemingly lack of ability, on the part of Auckland Zoo and the Auckland City Council to apprehend the feline predator before seemingly, she might take some unsuspecting resident in the darkness and use them as her next meal. With the headliner “WHAT HAVE THE AUCKLAND ZOO WHAT HAVE THE AUCKLAND ZOO WHAT HAVE THE AUCKLAND ZOO WHAT HAVE THE AUCKLAND ZOO OFFICIALS TO SAY ABOUT THE LEOPARD'S ESCAPE ?” OFFICIALS TO SAY ABOUT THE LEOPARD'S ESCAPE ?” OFFICIALS TO SAY ABOUT THE LEOPARD'S ESCAPE ?” OFFICIALS TO SAY ABOUT THE LEOPARD'S ESCAPE ?”

emblazoned in bold large type on the page the NZ Truth’s Auckland correspondent in their article of 25 September proceeded to write a long winded acidic criticism of the Zoo authorities. “What are the Auckland Zoo Authorities thinking about ? Re-

sponsible for the care of a number of wild beasts they appear

to take their responsibilities m safeguarding the public, to say

the least, somewhat casually. If not, why is it possible for a

female Leopard to escape from captivity and roam at large to

the imminent peril of citizens ? “

He writes, before launching a demand for explanations to be made at once for the lack of safety concern for the residents within the vicinity of where said leopard was supposed to be lurking. With a certainly that Auckland’s citizens were in peril the writer demanded on behalf of his publication - “...“...“...“...Truth demands that the Zoo authorities shall take steps to

see that in future the safety of people, children especially, is

not set at nought by any carelessness that enables jungle

beasts to roam at large. ..”

Referring to the leopard as ‘The Spotted Fury’ the NZ Truth reporter had a field day in his attacks of the Auck-land Zoo calling them novices as in the paragraph below ZOO RUN BY NOVICES.

“The fact of the matter is that the Zoo is m the hands of

more or less novices. Its control and administration form a

sort of tripartite arrangement in which the Town Cleric, the

taxidermist of the museum and. a supervisor play a role. “

“Even though it is a £77,000 civic venture, it is not governed

by any person who has had an extensive experience in the

handling of wild animals— at least of wild animals before

they become corpses. And the curator is a half-time official.

A gigantic undertaking like that at Auckland 'surely merits

the services of a thoroughly experienced zoologist. In fact, as

the present occurrence shows the safety of the public

demands it..”

“The position as at present is farcical.. A taxidermist in

charge of a Zoo is akin to an undertaker in charge of a

hospital. At all events it is no recommendation for those m

charge that m the tactics adopted to endeavor to recover the

leopard many of those m the hunt did not know what they

were to do should they come across their quarry. The

organisation was at times on the lines of a pantomime

extravaganza….”

It seemed the leopard was being seen everywhere in the area

as the Truth went on to claim several alarms had been raised

during the course of the days the leopard was supposed to be

roaming the countryside

The fact that the wife of ' the Rev. A. J. Beck, of St. Luke's

vicarage (just across the road), had seen fresh spoor marks

m her cabbage plot, would seem to confirm the impression

that "the jungle fiend is m the vicinity. The district is closely

inhabited, and there are many children, while there are the

Mt. Albert Grammar and Mt. Albert district schools m the

neighborhood. When it was reported that the leopard had

been sighted, beating operation's were at once transferred,

and the whole surroundings were thoroughly disturbed, but

nary a sign of the escapee. On Tuesday another scare was

raised when it was reported that the animal had again been

seen just behind the Baptist Chapel, which almost adjoins

the Grammar School. The country is rocky, but is heavily

overgrown by bracken, gorse and fern. When the beaters had

made an unsuccessful raid they were retiring from the scene

of the reported whereabouts of their prey when another

alarm was sent out. .

ATTEMPT AT CREMATION.

Photo of one of the traps set to catch the missing leopard—

NZ Truth 26 September 1925

Back rushed the beaters, and with reinforcements from

close by they recommenced their smashing tactics. No spot-

ted female, however, came to light, and m a last attempt the

growth was fired. Whether the smoke screen provided a suf-

ficient camouflage or not it is hard 'to say, but the elusive

leopard was not seen. So far there' has only been one report

of nocturnal raids, and that comes from a resident m the

locality of where the leopard was seen. On Friday night

seven fowls disappeared from the premises. It is believed

that the leopard was there on Friday morning, and the evi-

dence is -inclined to go against the fugitive as the marauder

responsible for the clearing of the poultry house.

Despite all of the posturing and criticism the NZ Truth it

failed to get the leopard to come out of hiding.

Finally on 11 October 1925 the body of the leopard was

found floating in Lady Bay near St Heliers.

Alarums and excursions regarding the female leopard

which escaped from the Zoo on 16th September were ended

to-day when the beast was found drowned in Lady Bay, near

St. Heliers. The leopard was floating, but there wore no

signs of decomposition. However, it must have been in the

water for some time to come lo the surface.

St. Heliers is nine miles to the east of Auckland, while the

Zoo is in the western suburb. How the animal travelled so

far is not known, but it is surmised that it fell into the waters

of Motion's Creek, below the Zoo. This rises in the Western

Springs, and is a fairly strong body of water. Thus, it is sup-

posed, the leopard was carried into the Waitemata Harbour,

where the tides and currents would easily carry it to the

place where it was found. Its recovery will be a great relief

to the western suburbs and the dwellers in the bush-clad

Waitakere Hills, where there has been an undercurrent of

anxiety for over three weeks.

AUCKLAND, This Day. The leopard when found at St.

Helier's Bay was in an excellent state of preservation. It

could have been dead only two or three days, -though it is

twenty-five days since it escaped from the Zoo. It was found

drowned floating on its side about fifty yards from the shore,

and was brought to land by four young men in a boat. The

reward of £10 offered by the City Council for the recovery of

the animal if dead will be shared by them. The body was

taken into Lady Bay and there bundled into a boat more

easily to effect a triumphant entry into St. Heliers, As the

boat was rowed into the bay an excited crowd gathered on th

beach, and a great concourse gathered. The dimensions of

the crowd became so serious that the police saw fit to hasten

down a posse to regulate traffic. The body now lies at the

Zoo awaiting burial or cremation. It measures 6 feet 1 inch

from head to tail, and is by no means the size of a cat, as

some people have been want to believe.

- Evening Post 12 October 1925

With Auckland now breathing out a sigh of relief that the ‘spotted peril’ was all but deceased the verdict at the post mortem came back as ‘drowned’ as the cause of death. "Found drowned" was the verdict returned at an inquest

yesterday on the body of the female leopard that escaped

from the Auckland Zoo nearly four weeks ago, states a

Press Association message. After it had been picked up in

the Tamaki on Sunday afternoon the body was taken back

to the Zoo, and yesterday morning it-was skinned and sub-

jected to a post-mortem examination. The body was in a re-

markably good state of preservation. The curator of the Zoo

(Mr. L. T. Griffin) supports a theory that the animal became

stuck in the mud in the creek at the back of Jagger's tan-

nery, was caught by the rising tide and washed out into the

harbour. It had probably been in the water for a week. . No

traces of any poisoning from a tan bath were found in the

body, and the animal evidently had, very little in the way of

food for some time before her death. When the body was

taken to the Zoo, the authorities made various measure-

ments, and these prove beyond doubt that leopard could

never have got out through the bars of her cage. How she

escaped still remains a mystery.

- Evening Post 13 October 1925

With everything over it seemed, the citizens of Auckland went back to living their lives now free of any concern that somewhere out there a leopard may be waiting to spring. However rumours soon had circulated that a keeper had been dismissed for leaving the enclosure door open as the Evening Post was soon to report A rumour new in circulation in Auckland city to the effect

that the female leopard escaped from, the zoo as the result

of a keeper leaving the door of the cage open and that the

man had been dismissed in consequence, was mentioned at

the meeting of the Auckland City Council on Thursday

evening. The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, gave this an emphatic

denial, saying that the matter had been very closely

investigated without it being discovered how the animal got

put (reports the "New Zealand Herald"). He could say,

however, that no member of the staff had been dismissed.

Every precaution had been taken to prevent the escape of

any of the animals now in the zoo.

- Evening Post 2 November 1925

The Mayor of Auckland City emphatically denied anyone

Photograph of the Jagger’s Tannery in the NZ Truth 26 September 1925

had been dismissed for neglecting their duties. After an almost two month saga—thus the tale of the leopard would be consigned to history or so it seemed.

With all the stealth and cunning of her superbly adapted kind a second female leopard managed to slink her way out of her enclosure at Auckland Zoo in March of 1950 News soon spread to the Australian newspapers. The Cairns Post reported on March 15 LEOPARD ESCAPES FROM ZOO

SEARCH IN AUCKLAND

Auckland Mar. 14 (AAP-Reuters)

A search is being made for a half grown leopard which has

escaped from Auckland Zoo.

The animal, with its mate arrived at the zoo from Singapore

a few days ago. Today it was found to missing from its

enclosure. How it got out is unknown.

Policemen and soldier members of the zoo staff armed with

rifles searched until dark without success.

The leopard has not yet been seen since Monday. It may

have already travelled some distance from the zoo grounds.

Both young leopards were in a pit near the zoo grounds. As

soon as the alarm sounded visitors were hurriedly cleared

from the zoo grounds and the gates were locked. It then was

thought that the leopard was lurking among the trees in the

zoo grounds, but this was not so.

- Cairns Post Wednesday 15 March 1950

Leopards in captivity are never kept in open to the sky enclosures. They are expert climbers, well adapted to scaling trees. Not even a pit would stop a leopard from making an exit from confinement. No zoo keeper could be blamed for this feline’s escape. Her freedom was all but very brief. The next day she was found near the assistant curator’s house and shot dead. ESCAPED LEOPARD SHOT

FOUND IN UNDERGROWTH

Auckland March 15 (AAP-A)

A burst of Sten gun fire at 7.15 o'clock this morning ended

the tension in Auckland over the escape of a young female

leopard from a cage in the Auckland Zoo.

The animal was shot in a thick tangle of undergrowth be-

hind the assistant curator's house. A growl in the under-

growth, the mauled body of a possum and the strange be-

haviour of birds lead the searchers to the leopard.

- Cairns Post 16 March 1950

And so, it ends, the tale of two escaped leopards from Auckland Zoo.

1950 25 years later a 25 years later a 25 years later a 25 years later a

second leopard makes her escape second leopard makes her escape second leopard makes her escape second leopard makes her escape from Auckland Zoo…….from Auckland Zoo…….from Auckland Zoo…….from Auckland Zoo…….

DUMBO 1940 - 1947

FIRST AFRICAN ELEPHANT AT ZOO The first African elephant ever to be shown in Australia was on

view at Taronga Park Zoological Gardens yesterday. It is a six-year-

old, and is not yet five feet high. The elephant arrived last week.

Most of the animals and birds which arrived in the same ship arc

still in quarantine.

-Sydney Morning Herald 13 January 1947

In 1946, several members of the Taronga Park Trust, from Sydney, Australia, spent several months travelling around the African continent in search of new animals to stock their growing collection. Four Sydney men, the secretary of the Taronga Park Zoo,

Mr. H. B. Brown, Mr. Hargreaves, Mr. E. J. Hallstrom, and

Mr. W. Turner, collected this record "bag" on an eight

months' trek. They went through Swaziland, Portuguese

East Africa, Tanganyika, Kenya, and Uganda, buying from

the hunters and trappers, who brought their jungle catches

into large bases. - Sydney Morning Herald 18 December 1946

During a visit to the Belgian Congo in 1946 (now The Democratic Republic of Congo) the men came across the only elephant training school in Africa. They pur-chased a 6 year old as yet unnamed African Bush ele-phant (Loxodonta africana) from the school

“...“...“...“...The elephant was bought from a special elephant train-

ing farm in the Belgian Congo. Run by the Bel gian Gov-

ernment, it is the only one of its kind in Africa. Each Febru-

ary officials, with about 60 native boys, go out to catch

young elephants…

...They take with them a number of trained monitor or

mother elephants, who are turned loose among the young

ones and head them off for catching. Taken back to the

farm, the babies undergo a rigorous six months' course of

education…

They lead a strictly regimented day-morning bath in the river,

lessons, a period out at pasture, and another bath at night.

During this time they learn to lie down and rise at word of

command and to know the human voice.

The monitors stay with them throughout training, assist

backward babies who either won't lie down or get up by

applying their trunks and tusks.

The motherly monitors think nothing of bringing a trouble-

some kindergartener to heel with a good firm slap from their

trunks, Mr Brown says.

Each night the tethered elephant lines are visited by an old

hippopotamus who comes up from the river, inspects the

babies, and everything to his satisfaction, goes back as si-

lently as he came.

- Australian Woman's Weekly 8 February 1947

The Sydney Morning Herald reported on the 18 December 1947 that the ship carrying some 1,000 birds and some 75 animals, had left Mombasa on the previous Sunday and was headed for Australia with spe-cial attendant E. Hargreaves on board. By 28th December the Swedish ship Mangarella had berthed at Freemantle, Perth ( Sydney Morning Herald 28 December 1946) later arriving at Mebourne bound for Sydney.

DUMBODUMBODUMBODUMBO The Life and death of The Life and death of The Life and death of The Life and death of Australia’s first African Australia’s first African Australia’s first African Australia’s first African Bush ElephantBush ElephantBush ElephantBush Elephant

Dumbo Australia’s first African Bush Elephant at Dumbo Australia’s first African Bush Elephant at Dumbo Australia’s first African Bush Elephant at Dumbo Australia’s first African Bush Elephant at Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney. Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney. Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney. Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney. Image Image Image Image Sydney Morning Herald Sydney Morning Herald Sydney Morning Herald Sydney Morning Herald 13 January 1947 13 January 1947 13 January 1947 13 January 1947

RARE ANIMALS ON SHIP FOR SYDNEY ZOO

MELBOURNE, Mon.

- The Swedish vessel Mangarella which arrived in Mel-

bourne today assumed the character of a modern Noah's

Ark after calling at Mombassa, East Africa, on the voyage

from Gothenburg. The vessel called at the African port to

load a valuable cargo of animals, birds and reptiles for the

Taronga Park zoo, Sydney.

The collection of wild life ranged from finches to a seven-

year-old African elephant, the first of its kind to be brought

to Australia. • The Mercury 7 January 1947

With the arrival of so many species all at the once the zoo found itself short of cages and space and thus had resorted to cutting the enclosures down in size to acom-modate the new arrivals. And with it the Sydney Morning Herald was pleased to announce The young elephant that has just arrived is the first one the

Zoo has had from Africa - but it will be no time before you

will be able to ride him. He is only seven years old, and an

elephant takes 15 years to grow up - Sydney Morning Herald 22nd January 1947

Named for the cartoon Walt Disney movie character, 'Dumbo' as he was now named spent a very short life being one of the main attractions at the Taronga Park Zoo. However by late June/early July of 1947 the young elephant was showing signs of illness. On 14 July 1947 Dumbo the African Bush Elephant died he was around 7 years old at the time.

SYDNEY, Sunday.

A Belgian Congo ' baby elephant, which was at Taronga

Park, died today after an illness lasting some weeks. It is

one of the most difficult animals to rear in captivity and,

had it lived, it would have been the first animal of its kind to

have lived in captivity anywhere in the world. - Canberra Times 14 July 1947

A post mortem would later show the elephant had died of an undisclosed congenital illness.

Dead elephant could not have lived long SYDNEY, Tues:

Dumbo, the Taronga Park Zoo elephant, worth £1,000,

which died on Sunday, was internally deformed, which

meant that he could not have lived long. This was discov-

ered at a post-mortem examination today.

It was explained that Dumbo had not been insured because

the rate of loss among animals was low. -The Argus 16 July 1947

TO-DAY - TARONGA PARK ZOO - TO-DAY

Taronga Park is the ideal place to

spend the Holiday

Attractions Include new arrivals Just

received from Africa-Whale headed

Stork, Secretary Birds, Baby Ostriches,

African Elephant, Rhinoceros,

Cheetahs, Bat eared Foxes, and many

others.

All picnic requirements available

lunch and afternoon tea served In

attractive Tea Rooms

Travel by Ferry

- Advertisement Sydney Morning Herald 27 January 1947

The Australasian Zoo & Circus Animal Historical Journal is an e-publication produced for the benefit of all who are interested in the history of the animals that have passed through Australasian Zoos and Circuses during the 19th and 20th Centuries. This publication has not been produced for commercial purposes. Its purpose is to inform and to provide where possible some background to the animals in these stories. The research has been as accurate as is possible. However, there may be errors or omissions. This is produced for research purposes only. Produced and published by Liz Clark, Northland New Zealand. Contact email :crewmadbushfarm@gmail.com