Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-22
BUT TWO HAVE ESCAPED
Animals at the Zoo Kept
Well in Hand.
LARGE COLLECTION
PROF. LANGLEY WILL ASK CON-
GRESS TO ENLARGE SCOPE.
Believes the Park Should Be Treated
as National Institution
Late Importations.
LARGE COLLECTION

1.-THE National Geological Park has been
In its present location since 1891, and dur
ing all Of that time, nearly twelve years.
but two animals escaped which caused the
least trouble to the attendants, and those
two are known not to have inflicted the
slightest injury upon any living person."
This assertion was made yesterday by
Mr.. Frank Baker, superintendent of the
park, in response to a query as to whether
or not the animals ever get beyond their
confines.
Many years ago." continued Mr.. Baker,
I'VE had black bear confined in the dens
down on the creek. The weather was cold
and the Ice formed rapidly. During the
night the water running down the side Of
the rocky cliff froze as it reached the sur
face, and finally piled up SO high that Bruin
was able to climb over the side of his
cage. He was soon detected by the atten-
dants and effort was made to capture
him alive. Every time the attendants got
him surrounded he would make a charge
at one of them and break through the line
by giving the man a great scare. Finally
1t was seen that the bear could not be cap
tured alive, so orders were given by the
then superintendent to kill the animal
rather than to take any further chance Of
his escaping from the park and inf1icting
injury upon some person. This was done
in few minutes.
The other escape was that Of small
cub wolf few days ago. And right here
l want to say that that wolf Is alive and
well In the park today. 1t has not shown
the slightest sign of rabies as has been
stated, and there is not the slightest symp-
tom of anything being wrong with him.
The wolf was born in the park and has
never shown any Of the bad traits of SINH
lar animals born in their wild state.
Regards Record as a Good One.
when 1t Is considered that there are
now in the park 537 animals, 225 birds and
116 reptiles, think you will admit that we
have made an excellent record and have
been particularly successful Few Of the
larger animals ever make any determined
effort to break out Of their quarters. The
lions. tigers, hyenas and other inmates of
the big animal house appear to be perfectly
contented. Some OF them, 1t must be re-
membered, were born in captivity and have
never known the free. rowing life of their
companions in captivity. The attendants
say that the animals appear to grow fond
Of human companionship and appear less
restless during the hours when there are
visitors in the park.
'Those cages on the hill in which are
confined the wolves, foxes, hyenas and like
animals have wooden doors, which are
closed at night, making the escape Of the
animals less easy. and at the same time
giving them better opportunity for having
d nlSnL s rest Inc ueeT ana tNe elk are
probably the most favored of the animals.
for throughout every day they are being
constantly fed and petted by women and
children, and they would probably not run
away at all If they should get out of their
confines
There are recent arrivals at the Zoo that
have added large interest to the collection
and are much priced by the superintendent
Of the institution. Among these are a
cougar from Oregon, three roseate spoon
bills from Texas, two swamp wallabies
from New South Wales and a Tasmanian
wolf with young from Tasmania, consid-
cred to be very rare specimen.
"Dunk's" New House.
The delightful weather of the fall has de-
layed the moving of the animals into win
ter quarters Such of them as need warmth
are fastened up at night and allowed to
bask in the sunshine during the day. The
new house for Dunk. the elephant, which
is being built by a special act of Congress-
providing $4,000 for the purpose. Is rapidly
nearing completion and will be ready for
his occupancy in about two weeks. In this
house he will be more comfortable than he
has ever been since taking up his quarters
at the Zoo and IT is understood it will not
be necessary for him to be made fast con-
tinually with two heavy chains attached to
his feet.
The eagles have been moved into a hand
some new cage, which was recently COM
pleted, and the new flying cage, 15S feet
long by so feet wide and 80 feet high, inclos-
Ing several trees and running water, built at
a cost of $500, has proved to be a great
boon to the feathered species. New bear
yards for the kadiak bear and polar bears
are being constructed and will be ready for
occupancy in about a month The antelope
house has been renovated and repaired and
the temporary bird house has been enlarged
by an addition of forty feet on the north
end. Plans have been prepared for a mod
ern and much more satisfactory aquarium
to take the place Of the barnlike structure
now in use
During the year forty-six animals were
born In the park, among which were one
lion, four gray wolves, five coyotes, five
blue foxes, one American bison, one Zebu,
two Cashmere goats, one nilghai, seven
American elk, one Virginia deer one mule
deer, three namas, seven hutie-conga five
prairie dogs and two acouchy.
Recent Acquisitions.
In addition to the specimens received re-
Gently number of important additions were
made to the collection during the past year.
Mr.. R. A. Gross presented a pair of young
lions from Somaliland Africa, and a pair
of young Ieopards was presented by e. 8.
Cunningham, United States consul at Alden.
Arabia
Mr.. Perry NJ. DeLeon. United States con-
sui at Guyaquil sent a kinkajou and a
they died en- route. Two Sitka deer, one of
which died en- route, were presented by
Captain Ferdinand Westdahl of the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey. A Ii
berian eagle was presented by Mr. James
r. Spurgeon. United States secretary of le-
CATION at Monrovia, Liberia Mr.. E. H
Plumbacher. United States consul at Mara
Caibo, sent large crocodile. Some Lamar
otte pigeons were sent by Mr.. Solomon Ber-
liner. United States consul at Teneriffe
Four Newfoundland caribou and a pair
of young moose were also obtained, but
the moose died.
United States consular officers and Of
f1cers of the army and navy and others
attached to the service of the United States
are constantly sending specimens to the
Zoo and it has been the aim of Professor
8. p. Langley, secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution. under whose control and guild
ance the park comes, to interest everybody
possible in the great work of perpetuating
the specimens at least of the mammal, bird
and reptile kingdom.
Wants Scope Enlarged.
Professor Langley hopes to be able to
persuade Congress to carry out the plan
originally manned ont for he a..