Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-31
ZOO WILL RECEIVE
. 30 RARE ANIMALS
FROM PHILIPPINES
Collection Made by Naval
Expedition En- Route
to Washington.
PARK LOSES OLD BEAR
AFTER THIRTY YEARS
Baby Gorilla Enjoys Sunshine on
First Outing in National
Gardens.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

animals is on its way to Washington
from the Naval Observatory expedition,
which recently observed the total eclipse
of the sun in the Philippines, according
to a cablegram received today by As
sistant Director Baker of the National
Geological Park.
The animals are due to reach San
Francisco July 9. whence they will be
shipped direct to Washington. The
shipment consists of wild cats. mon
keys, bleeding heart doves and other
rare tropical birds, monitor lizards and
two pythons. They were collected on
an obscure island in the Philippine
group by Capt. J. H. Keller Of the
Navy. surgeon of the expedition. Last
wear he was with the Marine expedi-
tionary force in Nicaragua and made
two large shipments of animals from
that country.
Animals Were Barred.
There are practically no Philippine
animals in the United States at present,
Mr. Baker said. because of ban which
has been in effect for years. This was
due to an animal disease known as
surra. caused by blood parasite. which
was prevalent in the islands and whose
carriers were not definitely known
Probably through an error in the word
ing of the law, the ban was made to
apply to all animals. including birds
and reptiles. This recently has been
lifted from most animals, so that the
Zoo expects a constantly increasing
flow of specimens from Government
officers stationed there.
The creatures of the denser Philip
pine jungles are little known, and the
present shipment may contain some
unknown to science. The wildcats. Mr.
Baker said, probably are civets, which
are seldom obtained for exhibition in
this country. 1t will now be possible,
he said, to obtain one of the famous
monkey-eating eagles of the islands.
The oldest mammal in the zoo died
yesterday after living here nearly 80
years. This was the big female Yaka-
tax bear, one of the larger Alaskan
brown bears, which came to Washing
ton early in 1901. During the entire
period of her captivity she has remained
contented and In good health until a
few weeks ago. when she began to
droop with old age. Although an Arctic
animal, she suffered from the cold of
Washington Winters, especially after
her blood began to grow thin with
years, and was never happier than on
hot Summer days when she could loll
IN few days by two Yakatak bear
Bears Getting Old.
It is becoming necessary, Mr.. Baker
said to rebuild the bear collection, since
many of the animals are approaching
the age when they cannot be expected
to live. One of the polar bears came
to Washington in the Winter of 1901
and the other in 1904. Both are show
ing signs of extreme age. The ordinary
life span of a bear is only about 20
years in the wild state, but in captivity,
where 1t gets regular meals and protec-
ton from its natural enemies, this is
greatly extended.
The bears. Zoo officials point out, al
most never are nervous animals and ir
few months adjust themselves per-
fectly to life in cages.
Ngi, the 3-year-old gorilla at the
Zoo. has been let out of doors for the
first time this week, Mr.. Baker said
and appears to be thriving on the warm
sunshine, reminding him of his native
Africa. His love for attention, how
ever, causes him considerable difficulty
While he Is performing for Grove
gathered about the outside cage he
keeps one eye on the inside and II q
crowd starts to gather there he imme.
diately goes to them.
When he was let outdoors he was seer
for the first time by his neighbor in the
next cage, the 5-year-old chimpanzee
They have carried on a signal communi.
cation for some time by poking straw.
at each other through cracks In the
board wall which separates them. Bu
when the chimpanZee saw the gorilla
face to face he began screaming anc
after few minutes started pelting hin
with sand through the bars. Ngi want
ed to be friendly his but feelings seemed
hurt by this reception and he has re-
! manned aloof from his neighbors evel
since.
Gained 20 Pounds.
On a Slight variation of the diet OF
3-year -old child. prescribed for him
by prominent Washington child spe-
cialist, the little gorilla has gained
nearly 20 pounds since he has been in
Washington and is expected to progress
rapidly toward the normal 300 pounds
| of the adult gorilla. In another year
according to Head Keeper Blackburn
he probably will be too husky to be
treated AS pet, even If his disposition
remains friendly.
Among the additions to- the Zoe
within the past week are two hornbills
curious African birds with enormous
beaks suitable for capturing and de-
vouring fish. and a capabara from
South Africa to replace one which dice
recently. The stork also has been busy
presenting the collection with two bison
a Rocky Mountain sheep, four wari
hogs, four wild bears and Philippine
water buffalo.
Five South American sloths shipped
from Cuba to the Zoo fell victims to a
cold snap on the way and all but one
were dead when they reached Wash
ington. The survivor died the next
day 1t is practically impossible, Mr.
Baker said. to keep these strange ami
mals. long in captivity, since they are
so lifeless anyway that it is impossible
to tell when they are sick. The Zoe
now is without a specimen.