El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-01-15
Zoos Aid Nature Studies
Students in Cities Are More Familiar
With Wild Animals
Than Domestic.

ASHTNGTON. d @. Jan

try. The appearance of a lion, ele-
plant or hippopotamus is more IA
miliar to hundreds of thousands of city
! school children now than that of a
sheep or COW, because the city child
goes to the zoo oftener than to the
| farm Each year added attention IS
| given to nature study taught in this
manner The difference between the
| in this country and those of Europe is
marked and much is to be SAID IN
| favor of both systems
The Zoos of Europe.
In Europe the geological parks are
| all important social centers. They are
/ never free and in addition to the at
/ traction of the collected animals there
! are continuous concerts, attractive res
| taurantS and dance halls which are
/ open, not only in the day time but
| until late at night as well
The zoo in Berlin is considered IN
many respects the finest in the world,
| and it is equipped with two bands
| Sometimes several orcheStraS are also
in attendance and concerts are held in
! different parts of the park while re-
| freshmentS of all kinds are served at
| popular prices. The average receipts
/ at the Berlin zoo are $1,000 a day ana
! there have been as many as 6OlOOO
! people in attendance in a single day.
| While children are taken to this zoo
| as a special treat, the largest proper
! ton of its patrons are adults whose
/ expenditures for food and drink aid
| greatly in the support of the resort
/
| in Europe are conducted In the same
Free Tickets for Children.
The first ZOOS in the United States
pean in organization These were
opened under the auspices OF local
pend upon their admission fees for
/ part of their support. In recent years
! the Philadelphia Geological society has
received large appropriations from the
return ]
issues annually thousands of free tick
cts which are distributed among the
public schools with the idea of giving
each child the benefit of one free visit
to the geological park These visits
are usually made in the spring.
The free geological park is distinctly
an American innovation and is in line
with many other generous educational
advantages. The first free geological
park was in Central park in New York
where an interesting collection of ami
mails was supported by the city for the
benefit Of the public The Central park
zoo for number OF years has been
completely overShadOWed by the one
which has been opened in the Bronx
more recently. The Bronx park now
contains about 5000 animals and is in
some respects the largest geological
collection in the world. All of its
treasures are absolutely 1ree 10 the
most ragged urchin who can manage
to reach its boundaries.
The Care of Wild Animals.
The care OF wild animals in zoo is
rather an unusual occupation but one
that is each year calling for the ser
vice of larger number of active,
strong men While most of the d1rec-
tors Of the geological parks are scien-
fists, few of the keepers and care
takers have had any special training
for their work because, outside of the
travelling circuses, there are few OPP
pOrtunities to obtain such training.
The difference between the care OF
animals in a circus and in a geological
park is that in the circus there is a
constant effort made to induces them
to perform tricks of various kinds,
whereas IN a zoo the idea IS TO keep
them in as nearly natural condition
as possible. With a few exceptions
chiefly among monkeys, the animals in
a geological park are encouraged in all
Of their natural habits and their cages
are planned as nearly as possible with
this end in view.
one of the hardest animals to keep
in healthful condition in an American
zoo is the moose, and yet it is almost
his natural atmosphere and surround
ings. The harnessed antelope which is
native to such swampy conditions IN
South Africa that his hOofs are spread
wide apart, enabling him to support
himself upon the PapyruS fibres with
which the swamp is netted, has given
no trouble in captivity even when he
is confined in a cage having floor
of solid concrete and given dry hay
for food
Reindeer is Rare in Zoos.
The reindeer is q rare animal IN ;
ZOOS and one that requires careful at !
tention- One of the few of these beasts /
to be found in warm climates is in the |
National geological park in Washing
ton, where he has been made the sub
ject of much study. He refuses to eat 1
much in the way Of food excepting a |
special kind of moss which is gath /
cred in the northern mountains Of |
Maine and brought down at much ex- |
pense for his especial qualification, Re
Gently he has been induced to NJ bible |
at a few slices Of fresh vegetables !
which most Of the other animals re- =
gard as a special treat in the middle |
The old idea that the polar bear suf- !
ferS during the warm weather and has /
to be supplied each day with ice is as /
erroneous as many other animal StOr- 4
les. The polar bears in the Washing
ton zoo have been exceptionally /
healthy even in the summer and seem 4
much less affected by the warm wealth
er than many of the animals native to /
a warm climate. They even breed in /
captivity which is not by any means /
frequent among wild animals Unfor-
tunately, however, the mothers usually /
destroy the young before they can be
Baby Animals Attract Attention.
One of the most interesting things in 1
connection with the care of wild ami
a new arrival IN the zoo If 1t Is of an
species, is looked forward to
as quite as important an event as the
coming of a human child. The first
baby elephant ever born in captivity |
was a noteworthy creature, and the
producer of thousands of dollars to her
L
delphia in 1882 of a gigantic elephant /
named Hebe. biologists from all over
the country came to examine this baby
before she was old enough to go out /
upon the circus route.
A baby monkey is always an attrac-
ton in a geological park and quite a
number OF them born in captivity have !
seemed to thrive. Usually the mon
key mother makes no attempt to kill
ler offspring, but nurses it in a most
human manner. Lions and tigers are
apt to destroy their young if not
watched
The head keeper of a zoo who has
also had years Of experience with wild
animals in circuses believes however
hat this tendency to kill arises from
extreme nervousness upon the part of
he mother caused by her inability to
hide her young as seems to be a nat
lral instinct Upon several occasions, !
baby lions have been taken by the
keepers and given to some large fe-
male dog to rear with excellent re-
suits. A baby leopard born in the
zoo was nursed and
brought up by the wife Of one of the
keepers. The animal became so at
ached to his benefactor that he died |
4 broken heart upon being taken back ,
o the zoo when he was so nearly
grown as to be considered dangerous
n an ordinary house.
Winter and Summer Homes.
There is much less difference made | 1
winter and summer quarters ! ,