The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1922-12-26
Growing Demand Because Of De.
pletion of Stocks During
World War.
MANY EXPEDITIONS NOW OUT
Year and q Half Frequently Elapses
Between Time Of Capture and Of
SaIe-African Natives Catch
Fever for Higher Pay.

NAL supply was shut off, although the
normal demand continued The breed
ing of such stock in captivity Is very
limited, while the death rate is COM
paratively high. The geological gar
dens, circuses and wild-animal exhibit
lions of all kinds have suffered q
steady falling off in their stock, with
no means Of renewing it. A large sup
ply of lions, tigers, elephants, hippos,
bears, snakes, in short, of every va
riety of animal used for exhibition
purposes, must be collected and dis
tributed to bring the supply up to nor
NAL.
Every section of the globe, from the
Arctic circle and beyond to the equa-
tor, is searched for wild animals to
meet this demand. Expeditions, many
of them very elaborate, are at work
afield today in some twenty-three diff
ferent countries scattered throughout
the world gathering such specimens.
The work is organized on an elaborate
scale. Each expedition must be d.
rected by specialists who have spent
years in these fields and thoroughly
understand the conditions under which
a particular animal may be tracked
down and captured.
transportation Is Difficult.
Since most wild animals are cap
tured in remote regions far from CIV
iliZation, the question of transpOrta-
ton is extremely difficult. Hundreds
Of miles must be covered over wild
regions before the nearest railroad or
shipping port is reached. The ham
ding of most wild animals under such
conditions is extremely dangerous and
difficult. So great is the American de-
mand for wild animals at present that
stock is now shipped directly to the
United States from the South African
and other fields. New York has be-
come a great clearing house for wild
animals, where extensive shipments
are received rivaling NOah's ark for
the variety Of it's passengers. There
are at present three such clearing
houses, one in New England, another
from which wild animals are distrib-
uted to all parts of the United States.
Wild animals are one of the few
commodities which have not increased
in price during the war. The present
quotations for the stock Of menagerie
compare very favorably with the pre-
war prices. A lion or tiger fully
grown can be bought anywhere from
$500 to $1,000. A giraffe brings from
$4,000 to $4,000. Considering the diff
ficulties of capturing these animals in
remote parts Of the globe and trans
porting them thousands Of miles to
their ultimate home in some geological
garden, the prices seem surprisingly
low. The prices incidentally are large
ly determined by the purchasing pow
ers of the owners Of menageries. Most
geological gardens, for instance, are
supported by subscription and can
only afford to pay certain prices and
the wild animal dealer 10 obliged to
meet them.
csst Has Increased.
meanwhile. has considerably increased
since pre-war days. In the most re-
mote jungles Of Africa the natives
have caught the fever for higher pay.
The new spirit naturally affects the
price Of wild animals to the ultimate
consumer.
The average visitor to a menagerie
who gazes idly at wild animals col.
lected for his amusement has little
idea Of the enormous work required
to assemble such a show. An expedi.
ton sent out for tigers, lions, ele.
plants or hippopotami will often con-
sist Of more than 100 persons. 1t is
necessary to have experienced beaters
who are familiar with the jungles and
the habits of the animals required.
There must be large force of run
ners who are also skilled in handling
wild animals under various conditions.
Several natives must make the trip to
prepare the food for the animals.
There is, besides, the staff who direct
the expeditions. In some cases the ex.
pcultlouS luCIuuc OOO cApcTleuCcu
hunters
The point of departure for some of
these expeditions is a large farm in
Fast Africa. Here more than 800 ma
tives are constantly employed. The
farm, incidentally, is situated nearly
100 miles from a railway, and here
the wild animals are brought and kept
for several months to accustom them
gradually to captivity. Such an ex-
petition may be absent one and half
years in the jungle. They must time
their trip so that the animals will be
captured at a favorable season when
the change to life Of captivity will
least affect their health.