The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-23
FIRST OF HIS KIND
EVER In CAPTIVITY
Fierce Alaskan Bear Cub Now
Gagged at the Zoo.
CAUGHT AFTER FOUR-YEAR HUNT

The Alaskan bear. received a few days
ago at the Zoo, is now lat home" to all
callers. He was put in permanent quar-
tiers and now has plenty Of room to move
about in in the huge cage with its great
steel bars which has been provided for
him.
He is the first Of his kind ever placed in
captivity. and he was caught only after
a four-years' search by Alaskan hunters,
who we're specially commissioned to cap
ture a living specimen of his species,
which is recognized as the largest and
hercest Of carniverous quadTupi in the
known animal kingdom.
Properly speaking Cfor there are a dozen
or so varieties Of Alaskan bear the new
conner is a specimen OF the Ursus hidden
dorn. or Middendorrs bear.
Fierce Temper for n Cub.
Although but a cub Of ten months. re-
curing over four years further for his
full development, he gave evidences Of
his temper while being transferred from
the box in which he was received 10 his
cage. He kept up an incessant and men
acing grovl during the process. and mace
several ugly dabs with mis- paw. any one
Of which had It reached the mark, would
have laid a mans cheek open
The transfer was happily accomplished
without accident. however, and young
bruin Immediately set about investigat-
ing his new quarters, with evident signs
of satisfaction.
The fact that this is, so far as is known.
the first specimen of this animal obtained
since il was discovered and described by
L
Il a notable acquisition.
Captured by a Special Hunter
Four years ago the authorities Of the
Zoo placed an order with the Alaska
Commercial Company for one Of these
bears and the present specimen was OBJ
tanned by one Of the special hunters en-
ployed by this company.
The Niddendorf hear inhabits portion
Of the bleakest and most inaccessible
land known namely. Kodiak Island. on
the coast Of Alaska. and the Alaskan
eninsula. This country is mountainous,
the slopes descending abruptly TO the
sea and densely covered with forest
growth. Add 20 this the deafness Of the
climate the ferOcity Of the Middendorf
bear. and its facilities for cover. and it
viii readily oe conceived why this animal
has been rarely noticed and never until
now. caught and confined.
SyviI-. From Alaska TO Siberia.
The specimen in the Zoo was captured
near Cape Douglas on the Alaskan PENN
sula. The bears swim from this spit OF
land 10 Kodiak Island. q distance Of about
fourteen miles. Indeed, every year. as
serts Dr. Baker, superintendent OF the
Geological Park the bears from Siberia
visit this shore and their Alaskan breth-
ren return their calls. In this case il is
supposed the animals are aided in their
transit by the floating blocks of ice. al
though both the Alaskan and Siberian
bears are OF such enormous strength and
have been known TO swim such great dis
tances that IL is highly probable that they
accomplish the passage across BehTiug
Strait by that means alone
DOdEeS the Kodak Fiend-
Attempts Of amate ur photographers 10
snapshot mis- bearship have thus far failed
because Of his extreme restIessness when
in view before the bars Of his cage and d
disposition 10 remain hidden in the little
den provided FOR his sleeping quarters.
Thus far no one has ventured within the
cage 20 induce him 70 take q good pos"
in the fun light before the camera.