Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-04-04
AT THE PHILADELPHIA zoo.
Some Interesting Animal. Pets and
Their Keepers.

A STRANGER visiting the Philadelphia ZOO
logical gardens and not knowing the ropes
does not see half the interesting features
of the place There are many sides to
life nj the 200. both among the keepers
and the animals.
Few persons strolling through the var
ious houses and enjoying the antics Of the
animals realize what great care is requir-
ed on tho part Of the caretakers to keep
the animals alive and in n state of good
health. A man to be a proficient keeper
must be something of "A physician and
nurse. and IL IS in the course of their min
istrations as nurses that strange and
strong affections spring up between the
keepers and the widest and most un-
tamcable of animals
Keeper f. Gcigcr of the antelope house
is on the mos. friendly terms with all his
charges. and 'or the past three years he
has used all his skill and ingenuity in
keeping alive little muis deer. BY care
ful nursing n has kept the affectlonate
animal I'm a stte OF good health for two
years the longest period that a muis deer
has ever lived i'm captivity in this state
The deer. q though one Of the most
timid animal. known. is now on very
friendly and IN innate terms with its keep
er Mr.. Geiger spend nearly all his time
OFT duty with his mountain friend. and
beast and man seem TO have n great deal
III common, TO inc ueef VIII lie COnfpnf
for hours with his head on Mr. Geiger's
knee. watching him with great speaking
eyes. The keepr seems to find the keen
est enjoyment T. talking to and caressing
the deer. which fllly returns his affection.
The graceful .mal will come bounding
forward in grCt leapss the moment he
hears his keepC voice or footstep and
If Mr.. Geieer Should pass the cage with
out word of recognition or a friendly
tOI1ph Rem nh no 4
and he would six and refuse food until
the keeper mad. his peace by brides and
an extra amour Of attention.
Ben has provd n most obedient and
docile patient. r. will cheerfully swallow
all kinds of dsgrreeable doses and once
when he had a s,re throat and was obllg-
ed to wear n hat1age around his neck he
submitted withdN an objection to having
his throat rubtes nd tied up every morn
ing
Most people w suppose that an ar
madillo would b, The last animal in the
world to be adopid as a pet vet Eeeper
Murray has taltei such good care Of one
Of these animals Dat he allows the keep
er to nurse him IKE baby. The Zoo
chimpanzee. BillI also shows the affec-
ton Of child TO Ioeper Murray Keeper
John Geiger OF III bird house has made
pets of all his feahered charges. but his
especial faVoriteiis n parrot named
Bob who is nelar happier than when
perched on the keter's shoulder learning
new word or cktttering in an almost
human way.
There are manybthcr pets in the ZOO.
nut BLY, Bob. G'frge and Ben are per-
haps the mo-tinteifu ng:at any rate they
are the tamest ard most highly educated.
as each one has bdp carefully trained by
the respective kee4rs Billy. the chin
panzec. Is alwaNH highly entertaining,
even when he Is Wy. for he then makes
the funniest grima&s ana acts altogether
so much like a spoif1 child that the visit
or who pauses in fI1t Of his cage enjoys
big laugh. Billy = perhaps the most
carefully watched animal In the zoo He
is the only creatur Of the brute creation
in the country. so ialr as is known. who
has the daily attesdauce of an eminent
physician. DR.. Thomas Biddle Of 112 South
Twenty stfeet Is in constant at
tendance upon Bis. The chimpanzee
never pays his doctoTs or nurses bills.
but he is examined and cared for reg
ularly every DAY. u be returns the
Kindness by devot rs which is laugh
able. When his doe }r or keeper asks
Billy how he feels, a. mischlevous little
animal will either pre- and TO be suffering
horribly. or else he sli frisk around as
though in n state of y usual good health.
according to his moot
Like most of his t.it Billy is very fond
of bright colors and there is one pink
medicine which. becah,e OF its brilliancv.
is his especial favorite, le was quite indig-
nant when this was { splaced bv n con-
coction of a dull brown hue. The first
time the latter liquid vas offered him he
scolded and refused &, take the dose
Watching his chance. ' seized the bottle
from Keeper Murray's hand and threw II
against the iron bars, Gathering with de-
LIGHT y-b 10
DIR. Biddle was sent TO-. and after n lit
tie coaNing he brought Billy 70 terms. for
the chimpanzee would g through fire and
water for his friend After the doctor had
gone. however. Billy tufr ed sulky for the
first time since his arrir at he Zoo. and
he stolidly refused the ely brown mix
ture when it was next Altered him
Keeper Murray declt-es nat Billy is
more fun than the rest y the animals in
the Zoo put together. but Keeper John
Geiser dsagrees with Ills statement: he
claims that Bob. his fay rite parrot. is as
amusing and clever as they get them
up! Bob Is a parrot With mind of his
own, and he has not the highest objection
To stating his opinion 81 things and peo-
pie If anything is done T. ruffle him. He
talks very fluently. an, picks up odd
words and phrases While he hears from
visitors.
His keeper was amazed he other dav to
hear him shout. "Oh. vnI go way back
and sit down. John in 1 voice startling
" like that of one of ID, other keepers.
When he is being doctor.i and forced TO
take drug which he doe not eniov Bob
will startle the visitors by screeching:
Help! Murder! They're killing me!' II
his keeper scolds him Bob will very inele-
gantly exclaim. "Oh. shn up; you make
me tired"
The little armor-coveredar madillo Is al
so an interesting animal and although
very retiring and suspicious of strangers.
he is most affectionate with his keeper.
George, as the armadillo & called. makes
no advances. but he likes to be fondled.
and will lie n long time II his keeper $
arms having his head scntched or his
back rubbed.
During the winter months the keepers
are kept particularly busy amusing their
charges, for the visitors 4 the Zoo are
few at this season of the year During
the summer months, when crowds of chill
dren and their parents look to the Zoo.
the animals in the garden a'e entertained
as much as they entertain, nd the keep
ers' work is considerably lessened
philadelphia Times.