Evening star., 1932-07-12
VALUED SUMATRAN
ANIMALS ARRIVE
FOR NATIONAL zoo
Collection Includes Biggest
Snake in Captivity, 27-
Foot Python.
BIRDS, REPTILES, TIGERS
AND APES ARE IN GROUP
Special Permits Were Obtained
From Netherlands Government
to Capture Specimens.

One of the most valuable shipments
of wild animals ever brought to the
United States was unloaded at the Ma
tional Geological Park this morning.
1t included the biggest snake ever In
captivity. five man-like apes. two tigers
and an assortment Of reptiles and plrdS
so rare that some of them are un-
known even to scientists. The collec-
ton was the cream of the Sumatra
jungle, made by an American rubber
chemist and amateur naturalist, VINO
combed the dense forests in his spare
time Some of the animals were col
lected especially for the National Zoo
under special permits from the Netner,
lands government, which permitted
their capture only as courtesy 10 an
other government.
Python Holds Record.
The most striking creature i'll the col
lection is the reUiculated python, ~
feet long. who easily holds the record
for size of all reptiles in captivity. He
apparently is about as viscious as he Is
big, It required 20 minutes to get Alnl
his home for the last three weeks INTO
the biggest cage in the zoo reptile
house. This was accomplished only with
considerable prodding with a broom at
which the monster struck repeatedly
in anger over the disturbance OF his
long sleep. He was prodded out back
end-to. When his head was finally IN
the cage and turned away from the
entrance the door was slammed smut
quickly. but just in time for the snake
made a quick lunge towards 1t. 1t re-
uuired % men to hold the great reptile
while he was being measured, accord
ing to DR.. William M Mann. director
of the Zoo. He was given a cage COM
panion. gigantic water boa. Whe'her
the two will be friendly IS quesIlon.
Then there were six blood pythons,
large snakes colored brilliant red. Un-
til today only two were ever in captlVlty'
one at the Washington Zoo and one IN
London about 20 years ago. The collec-
tion included two of the most deadly
snakes in the world, branded kraits.
Compared to this creature even the
cobra is little feared. They move like
lightning. are absolutely silent. their
bite is deadly and they attack without
warning and apparently out OF pure
vicicusneSS.
All Others Have Died.
Kraits have been in captivity before,
but so far as known, none ever has
eaten. Consequently they have soon
died. These two, DR.. Mann reported,
are eating. One of the krait's favorlte
tricks is to coil around door knob.
When the unsuspecting householder
opens the door he receives the death
stab of the fang.
The collection also contains two
hooded cobraS-also deadly creatures
But they warn before they strike. They
~, nr1n
asleep in the sun, the legend runs, and
the corba raised its hood over him like
a parasol. So none of his species can
be killed and they take an enormous
toll of life.
There were also six mangrove snakes.
very poisonous but peaceful. They are
Jet black with bright yellow spots. They
look. says Dr. Mann, like Oriental
necklaces" Among the most prlzed
creatures in the collection are two VIVID
green tree snakes which may be new
to science. There was an assortment
of miscellaneous snakes. some OF un-
known species. and boxfull OF smaller
reticulated pythons.
curiosity in the collection is the
elephant trun kSnake. 1t is the Suma-
tran water snake whose skin is used IN
making snake-skin shoes. 1t is very
tough and enduring and approximately
a half million skins are shipped out
every year. But this is the second live
one ever to come into captivity For
27 DAYS it remained in tin can and
nobody knew whether it would be alive
or dead when dumped out. 1t proved
very much alive.
black siamang gibbons and one baby
white-faced gibbon. They are the low
est of the four species OF man-llke apes.
They sail through the air from limb to
limb with almost the ease and grace OF
flying birds.
Two Baby Orang Outangs.
The real pets of the collection are
two baby orang -outangs each about
year old They are exceptionally tame
and in good health. They probably will
be the last orang- -outang to come out OF
Sumatra for a long time. The Dutch
government has just put into effect
rigid laws protecting the almost human
creatures in their jungle habitat, and
only the intercession Of DR.. Mann OBJ
tanned a permit for their capture.
There are now five baby anthrcpoldS
representing all tht known species at
the Zoo.
The collection contains two excep-
tionally fine specimens of the Sumatra
tiger. They are young, vigorous ami
mails. quite fierce and with enormous
appetites With their acquisition the
Zoo now has representatives of all three
families Of tigers,
There is also a collection of rare
Sumatran birds-quails, starlings and
cuckoos. Some represent species prob
ably unknown to science. There are
also two crocodiles and a number OF
rare small reptiles.
DR.. Mann met the ship in New York
yesterday, and the animals brought IN
were divided between the Washington
and Bronx Zoos. Most of the rare
species went to the national animal COL
lection.