Evening star., 1902-01-25
zoos BILL OF FARE
FEEDING OF WILD ANIMALS RE-
DUCED TO SCIENCE.
Appetite of Snakes-Nearly Fifty Kinds
of Food Kept I'm the
Beasts Pantry

FROM lne Sclentlnc American.
The feeding of wild animals in captivity
so that they Will thrive and grow con-
tented in their confinement has become
pretty accurate science in modern times,
and the keepers of wild animals in ZOO
logical parks, menageries and circuses have
attained such success in this direction that
it is rarely an animal dies because of i'm
proper feeding. Twenty-Five years ago this
was not the case. The mortality among
menagerie animals was considerable, and
the losses were so great that a systematic
inquiry was made in regard to the feeding
of wild animals in captivity.
Partly as the result Of that inquiry, and
partly because of the accommodating ex-
perience in handling the animals, present
methods of feeding have practically elimi-
mated all danger to the animals from the
food they eat. Yet it has been easy
question to solve. In wild state the ear
nivorouS animals are gluttons when they
can find the food. but their restless activity
prevents any troubles from indigestion or
overlooking. Likewise, the reptiles gorge
themselves with food and then sleep off the
effects for days at time.
Indigestion Solved.
If all other conditions of cage life agreed
with the wild animals as much as this
regular, systematic feeding, the longevity
Of the creatures would undoubtedly be
much greater than their kind allowed to
live in their natural habits, subject to all
the uncertainties of food supply.
The feeding of wild animals birds and
fish in any large park or menagerie is con-
sequently Of scientific, interest and value.
Something less than $4,000 worth Of food
and fish in the public parks, menageries
and aquariums in the limits Of Greater
New York. A close analysis of the food
purchased by this considerable sum shows
spent for meat, fish and fowl.
There are altogether some forty or fifty
different kinds Of food used, and all Of it
is as good as the market affords. The COM
mon idea that scraps and waste food can
be fed to wild animals Is hardly consistent
with modern menagerie experience. Such
food would in short time cause sickness
and disease among the animals in captivity.
Hence all the food is carefully selected and
Is of the very best.
Danger of Poisoning.
In feeding the animals with fish. the
greatest danger comes from ptomaine
poison. Several fine otter and seals have
been lost through feeding them with fish
that had become tainted. The seals. sea
lions, etters and pelicans are great con-
sumers Of fish, and they are fed eveiy
morning with medium-sized herring,
packed fresh in ice and delivered daily at
the Geological Park. When it is impos-
sible to secure good herring, other fish are
the fastidious creatures who live on fish
diet
These flsh-eating animals and birds are
very susceptible to poor food, and any
violent change in the quantity or quality
Of 1t almost instantly causes sickness.
Probably more sea lions have been lost to
geological gardens in the past through in
sufficient knowledge concerning their food
than any other class of valuable speci-
mems. The slightest taint of the fish pro-
duces symptoms which usually terminate
in sickness and death.
The snakes are also very susceptible to
the kind Of food given them, and they
prove extremely fastidious creatures when
held in captivity. 1t is impossible to sup
ply some of the reptiles with the special
food they like, and substitutes are not
taken kindly to at first.
Food for Big Snakes.
Thus the big cobras in their native
small, harmless varieties. Now. 1t is man
1festly impossible to secure sufficient small
snakes to supply these voracious eaters at
all seasons Of the year. Nevertheless. the
keepers Of the Central Park menagerie and
the Geological Park in the Bronx make
great efforts to collect small snakes for the
valuable 0Obras. These come from differ
ent points in considerable numbers. ship
ments often mounting as nigh as $50 at a
time.
Fed on these live snakes, the cobras
thrive in captivity and appear satisfied
with. their lot: but 1t becomes necessary
to appease their appetite with rats and
mice when snakes are scarce. While new
cobras will not touch these rodents " hen
they are first placed before them, they can
sometimes be enticed to swallow them
when tied to the tail of a small snake or
even when stuffed in the skin OF a dead
reptile.