The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-09
COMMENTED IN THEIR CAGES.
Ar LEAST THE BEASTS IN THE
PARK DON'T TRY TO ESQ APE.
OH Tom, the had Elephant. an Exception
Pew Escapes From the MenaEerie
Wild Ducks Try city Life and Like
n-BiS cats Fond OF Human society.

-niS aus u OIlu OI uuIUuU SOcIety.
There are t84 birds and Al animals in the
Cent raj Park Menagerie and visitors fire.
quently ask the keepers:
DO any of the animals ever escape"
The history Of the menagerie goes back
a little more than twenty-five years, and
during that time there have been very few
escapes. In the early days a polar bear
got away as it was being transferred to a
cage on it's arrival az the Park. After a
chase of few hours the keepers shot il,
A spotted leopard got out of its cage in
the lion house about fifteen years ago.
II first invaded the stall OF the rhinoceros,
but when that animal showed fight it
scrambled into an empty cage and crouched
in a corner until lassoed and returned TO
its quarters.
-Four years ago six red foxes escaped
from their den at night and roamed about
the Park, feeding ON squirrels and birds
for several days. Then they were shot by
a keeper. An investigation showed that
two young men, apparently from mischief,
had sneaked into the menagerie at night
and opened the door TO liberty for the foxes.
Since then the buildings have been more
carefully watched
A buffalo COW butted open the door OF
her stall a few years ago and wandered
about the Park in search Of fresh heritage
for a few hours. Then a keeper threw a
rope over her horns and led her back to
the paddock.
Several prairie dogs succeeded in escaping
from their village last summer, by burrow-
ing under stone wall They were found
on Fifth avenue and taken back.
Few of the big animals make any deter
mined effort to break out Old Tom, the
ugly elephant recently killed, was an ex-
ception. He never despaired of gaining
his freedom and continually smashed
things in an effort to break from his stall.
The lions. tigers and other inmates of
the lion house appear To be content, or,
at least. resigned to captivity. some OF
| them were born in that state and have
| no ACQUAINTANCE with the free life of the
| Jungle.
The keepers assert that those animals
| like human companionshp and are least
| rest less when crowds of people pass before
| their cages. A. they are carnivora, the
visitors do not feed them with dainties,
| 40 their love for human society does not
| come through The pampering OF their appe-
| tite. as is the case with the deer and bears.
! All the cages Oh the hill in which are con-
| fined the hyenas, wolves. small bears, foxes
|
| wooden doors which are closed az night
| This is an additional precaution against
| the escape of the beasts and also conducos
| TO a good night = rest for them. Director
| Smith has found that the apparent trine
| Of boxing up the cages AT night mas bene-
| fetal effect upon the health of the animals.
| The red and axis deer, the nylgha'is and
| the elk are the most favored of the ANNA
collection, and probably would not run
| away If they had the chance All day Ions
women and children are petting them and
treating them to candies, cakes ana other
| delicacies.
Among the water fowls on the lake are a
number OF wild ducks which could ny away
IL they wanted to. They dropped into the
lake five or six years ago from migrating
flock and struck up friendly relations witt
the tame ducks. Then they took liking
to- the daily supply OF cracked corn ano
have fingered in the Park ever since.
Occasionally. when the winter temper
allure Is very low and much ic" forms on
the lake, some Of them tlv over to the re-
servoir AT the upper end OF the Park where
there is open water and chance oil catch
ing small fish. The watchman employed
there considers IL his duty "a Keep the water
clear of all floating objects, ducks included
He had several days of fine duck hunting
! on the reservoir three years ago, Whei par
| of the flock went there.
| He went out In a boat with gun and the
birds. not sispecting evil from fathe'
Knckerbocker. allowed him 10 get within
gunshot He bagged several OF them
| whereupon the O,hers sought salct! III theiI
| winter quarters,
Some remarkable conduct on the part
| of wild ducks was observed by Foreman
Grady, who j. in charge OF the lower enc
of the Park Six wild ducks left migrating
flock and took up their residence on the
Childrcn's pond near Fifty-nin,h street ant
sixth avenue. That was four years ag,
and they are still there