Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-01-25
Feeding Captive Wild Animals.


in existence for many years. il was not
until the New York Geological Society
opened its Zoo" at Bronx Park, New
York City, that a systematic attempt was
made to care for wild animals in captivity
in scientific way.
Before that time captive Wild animals
had been treated in more or less hit-or-
miss fashion. II they lived-vey good
if they died-why no one was TO blame.
The New York Geological Society, how
ever, believing that sn ounce OF preven-
ton is worth more than pound OF cure,
appointed as regular members OF the Zoo
staff Harlow Brooks. NJ. D., as pathol-
ogist, and w. Reid Blair, DIV S, as
veterinarian.
These experts iound that very large
part OF the diseases from which captive
wild animals suffer is caused by their
food. Too much food causes, tirSt, fat
ness and then physical degeneration
improper methods OF eating produce dys-
pepsia and parasites contained in the
food often give the animals fatal intestl-
nal troubles
Overlooking was stopped by rigorous
ly prohibiting the pubic from giving the
animals titbits. and by regulating each
ANIMALS supply OF food according to its
physical condition and The amount OF ex-
ercise il took. BY giving the animals
fcod that required complete msstloation,
they were made 10 eat properly. They
were fed, also, al The same time each
day, and the food itself was made whole
some by cooking and sterilization.
The most difficult animals 10 handle in
the matter OF diel are the big catS-the
lions and tigers. They refuse TO eat
cooked meat, and they bolt their food so
fast that they often suffer from dYspep-
sia. Their daily ration IS ten or twelve
pounds OF raw meat. To compel them
TO eat slowly, the keepers give them bone
and griStle with the meat, and the fastest
eaters get the boniest portions. To rid
them OF the parasites that they devour
and their food parasiiicides and pufga-
tives are administered in their food at
intervals OF six weeks.
In the case OF the smaller cats, such as
the eopards, pumas, lYnxes and the like,
the meats parboled or thoroughly steam
ed. That kills all the eggs and parasites,
and the animals do not need 10 be drug
ged.
To prevent those cats that eat only a
small quantity OF food from swallowing
their meat in chunks. the keepers grind
the meat into Hamburg steak. Some OF
the cats they fe q with small fishes, which,
although not cooked, are carefully cleaned.
Like the cats, the dogs, including foxes.
wolves and similar animals, usually eat
too fast; and, like the larger cats, they
do not like cooked meat. They get their
meat raw, and they have 10 take occa-
sional doses OF parasiticides. For the
most part, however. they are fed on
kind OF dog biScuit-compressed cakes
composed OF blood, beet. bran and grains,
hardened by baking. The food cannot
be eaten without complete masilcaiion,
and il supplies the elements that have
been found necessary for these ami Jals.
The problem Of finding proper food
for the herbivorous or hoofed animals,
such as the elephants rhinoceroses, hip
popoiamuses. elk. deer and the. like. IS
more serious. The handling OF the enOr-
nous amounts OF native foods-grass,
hay, grain and yegetables-thai these
animals require, The storage. preservation
and mixing OF them. would be very tire
some task.
These difficulties have been overcome
by preparing a concentrated food. moi un-
like dog biscuit. HuHed oats. wheat,
corn and bran, in proper proportion, are
mixed with molasses and salt and press
ed into cakes an inch thick and as big as
a small plate. which are then baked hard.
The cakes are each equal to quart or
more Of loose grain they take up little
room; they keep indefinitely, and they
are free from parasites. Six OF them
make meal for a large animal. and their
very hardness and dryneSs compel the
animals 10 chew them most thoroughly.
With these cakes the animals get GER
tain amount OF hay in bulk, and al tines
they get bran mash.
Most interesting OF all the animals are
the monkeys. Closely resembling man
in many other particulars, they are like
him also in the matter OF appetite, for
they are iastidious TO degree, and giut-
tons as well. Because they are suscep-
tible to tuberculosis, stomach troubles
and other Ills Of the human animal, they
are especially hard to rear.
The monkeys get their native food, IN
addition to foods foreign TO them that
have been found beneficial. They
naturally enough require bananas. grapes,
dates. apples, oranges, and perhaps pea
nuts.
But the simian appetite demands variety
and takes readily to new articles Of diet.
So il has come about that at the Bronx
Zoo The men in charge OF the monkeys
give them in addition 10 their native foods
raw carrots, onions, boiled potatoes and
bread. To this bill OF fare they also add
milk, zwieback, oooa,-of which the
monkeys are extremely fond,-boIIed
rice with raisins, and breakfast TODD.
There is one more impon8ni article o.
simisn diei-canned salmon. The mon
key in captivity IS afflicted with sort Of
paralysis that grows oul Of an affection Of
the osseous tissues. II is caused by q
lack Of phosphorus in his system. Sal
mon contains high percentage OF phos-