The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-15

The above photographs, taken at
 the zoo. show several of the animals
 as they now are, and their veteran keeper, Buck Wetzel.
 The animals are now awakening from semi-cose condition which af- fleets them during the cold season
 and the coyotes have already begun
 their race-horse antics. Miss Fancy, the 6,S00-pound elephant is already expecting the boys and girls and each Sunday as the crowds grow larger, she seems happier. according to MT. Wetzel.
 The rattlesnake, too. is getting
 back his appetite. Last Septembe
 he was put away for the winter with These sufficed for while, but now
 he is visibly hungry.
 Animals in Good Condition A tour of the zoo will show that the animals are now in the best of condition and are anxiously waiting for the season to open. The animals really like to have the people visit them and watch them, the keeper
 says. and as Mir. Wetzel has been
 connected with the park for almost a score of years. he is in a position to
 know.
 One of the new animals in the zoo is the half sheep and half goat. This
 strange animal was donated to the
 zoo by an East Lake resident and is
 already attracting considerable at
 tention. The new buffalo. Ellis Bill" has become reconciled to his
 surroundings and now leans idly
 against his. stall each day, probably
 thinking about his former home on
 h !,
 "Ellis-Biii" lived true to his name when he arrived here about three
 weeks ago, when on the first-shot :
 out of -the-box he completely buff faloed' the entire corps of keepers at
 the park. He was quieted in a short
 time, however, and has now, with the
 aid of the keepers, learned the art
 of controlling his temper. The Llama.s from the Argentine in South America are beginning to stretch their long necks in the di- rection of Red Mountain, no doubt in
 some respects reminded of the Andes, while the sacred cattle of India, the
 Zebus. has succeeded in arresting at- tention by their large hump necks. Proud of Daughter Minnie. the monkey, is now very proud of her little girl, who was born on February 10. The little monk IS now OHly dDie tO CllIn D around on it's mothers back and is terribly frightened at the sight of a mirror. There are about 12 other
 monkeys besides Minnie.
 Several new owls. eagles, rabbits and squirrels have been added to the
 zoo within the past few months. A mate is to be purchased for the
 beautiful pheasant which has been at l the zoo for the past year.
 The big bears are now lolling around their dens and occasionally wallowing in the pools of water. The dens are being refinished this year
 and present very pleasing appear ance.
 The bars to the bear dens came from the old city prison and were | put in the .dens about 13 years ago | by J. A. Williamson. city superin- tendent of parks and MT. Wetzel. The
 dens were also built by them at that 1 time.
 Miss Fancy, the elephant, has in | creased in weight about 2,500 pounds
 sine she was purchased. according to Superintendent Williamson yesterday. | Miss Fancy was purchased from a circus in Tuscaloosa 10 years ago by
 fund contributed by the children of Birmingham sponsored by The Age
 Herald. The elephant was then about four years of age and was considered l a fine actress in her way.
 Another famous elephant was also
 with this circus and oftimes won the
 largest amount of applause. This