Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-03
GIRAFFEs ARE soARoE.
Only a Few Years Before the Cameleopard
WIN be Extinct.


Serious apprchensions are felt by
naturalists that, before many years, the
cameleopard, more Familiarity known in
this country as the giraffe, win be entirely
extinct. There are many reasons for
the rapid disappearance Of this curious
animal, but probably the most potent
one is the fact that. like the American
buffalo, the giraffe has been relentlessly
hunted by sportsmen in its native wilds
and indiscriminately killed for the mere
pleasure of the chase. Another important
reason is the failure TO successfully breed
the animals in captivity.
At the present time there are not more
than 20 giraiies in captivity in the entire
civilized world OF this number only six
are in America. The Others are main
tanned at great expense and with extreme
care in the geological gardens Of Earope.
Regents Park, London. has three; the
Jardin d'Accimation in Paris, has pair;
the Berlin Zoo exhibits two or three. and
the Others are on exhibition in Hamburg
Antwerp, Frankfort and other European
cities.
The largest single herd Of giraffes now
IN captivity is said TO be owned by the
Barnum q Bailey circus. which exhibits
hero ON Saturday, May 10Th The herd
includes two mahs and two females. and
being young specimens, are still growing
and promise To- reach the extreme height
ever attained by these animals. AT
present the tallcst one is said to have n
reach of rs feet
The giraffe is not hardy animal in
captivity, and does not thrive on dried
food, as Is the case with most ruminant
animals. In the wild state the giraffe
feeds ON fresh, growing leaves and twigs
in which the sap Is still running In view
of its prediction for succulent food IL il
rather singular that the giraffe drinks
very little water. It's peculiarities OF
dict, az well az its cxtNme sensitiveness
To changes Of climate. makes the giraffe
a difficult animal to preserve IN n healthy
condition With the Barnum h Bailey
circus, IL is said, two men devote their
entire time 10 the care of the four piraffes
one of the mon always being with them
day and night. A constant effort is made
20 provide fresh food for them, and, on
the road, their keepers are always on the
lookout for green leaves and succulont
grasses for their fastidious charges When
ever possible mullen leaves are secured
as they come nearer the natural food Of
tho girallcs than anything else oblainable
m this country As a rule the animals arc
permitted to slake their thirst with milk.
rather than water.
Owing To their peculiar structure and
long neck giralfos are especially liable Ia
Injury IN tansip, and great care has 10 be
exercised IN moving them from city 10 city
During the ocean passage Of the Banum
n bailey circus, enrome to Europe
several years ago, an especially valuable
specimen was killed bv having its necl,
broken in q heavy swell. The Prone
ness of giralies To injury and death IN this
way makes IL necessary 10 watch them
oil tho time That tho loss Of a giraffe
IS a serious matter Is evidenced bv the
fact that the London Zoo. n few month,
ago. offered Manager ! A Bailey $40 OOr
for the herd now with tho show. There
arc no animals IN the circns zoo that AZ
tract SO much attention as the giraffe anc
as monagorio attraction they are prob
ably worth all thoy cost
The Barnum h Bailey menaeerie il
also said to ho especially interesting thi
year for its large number Of rare carec
animals, as well as for the MANY un
usually fine representatives Of the NOR,
familiar species Three herds Of traine,
elephants also add to the completeness
Of the display. The menagcrie form
the corridor for the big show, which /
described as especially replete, thi
season. with startling and sensationa
teature-acts of most unusual character