Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1958-12-20
Negro Zoo
Continued from Page One)

| lOI 81 RIcdL
Credit for the fact that the Zoos
! first herd of Arctic reindeer did
arrive safely has been ascribed to
l what National Geological Park Di-
0 rector, DR.. Theodore R. Reed, calls
a the excellent teamwork of trans
y rortation officials, Of Mr.. Thomas
y and J. Lear Grimmer, associate di-
rector of the National Geological
0 Park with whom Mr.. Thomas trav-
D eled to Alaska.
D Mr.. Grimmer and Mr.. Thomas
D arrived in Kotzebue, Alaska in
, mid November and spent three
= days of corralling and tying the
wild herd, only three of which had
been handled before by humans.
Great care had to be exercised
D in caring for the animals. They
D were given medicines, including
, tranquilizers. Accustomed to Arc
, tic eating habits, they had to be
converted to new methods, feat
which necessitated' considerable
) coaxing and babying from Mr..
Thomas. Though accustomed to
Arctic temperatures, they had to
J be protected from wind drafts be-
, cause of their susceptibility to
, shipping fever.
, The reindeer were flown the $50
, miles from Kotzebue to Anchorage,
Alaska in an Alaska Air Command
plane. They were taken by Alas
ka Railroad to Seward and placed
} on the Iliamma, an Alaska liner,
, for the 140O miles to Seattle Wash
, ington.
For the 31OO-mile trip from Seat
; tie to Washington, D. c., CONSOLE
dated Freightways, Inc, diversi-
fled and decentralized motor car
} rier with headquarters at MEMO
} Park, Calf. contributed without
cost a reindeer special" which
was a 4O-foot- livestock trailer with
cleaning aluminium sides and spec.
ially-constructed stalls designed
EXPRESSLY for shipment of the ami
mails.
Located in separate stalls with
J a 1O-inch alfalfa mattress, the AMI
mails could stand or lie down IN
comfort.
They were transported by four
expert Consolidated Freightways
drivers. One two-man team took
them from Seattle to Billings,
Mont, the other from Billings to
, Washington. ;,
Throughout the journey the herd
received from Mr.. Thomas and Mr..
Grimmer the expert care the AMI
mails needed to survive.
Mr.. Thomas left the trailer at
Chicago and proceeded by air to
Washington to set up special nous
inp and feeding facilities at the
National Zoo.
Asked why Mr.. Thomas was
chosen to assist in this venture
which brought to the National Zoo
it's first herd of Arctic Reindeer,
Director Reed said he knew that
If anyone could do it, Mr.. Thomas
could.
DR.. Reed further stated that Mr..
Thomas is often called upon to con-
duct visiting zoo directors around
the National Geological Park.
DR.. William M. Mann, retired
director of the Park, said Mr..
Thomas is the best animal man he
has ever known.
Mr. Thomas has vast experience
and understanding in handling
members of the deer family. AS
senior keeper of the large mammal
division, he is supervisor of all the
boof stock. This division of the
park covers a wide variety of ami
mails ranging from deer to wild
horses. rhinoceros, hippopotamus-
90 tapir. camels and llamas.
Employed by the Park for IL
wears. Mr.. Thomas has under his
snrervision IL men, including three
supervisors.
! a native of Washington, D. c.,
he is 48 years old, married and
has a 19-year-old daughter who is
nurse.
Exhibiting a love for animals
which he says is prerequisite for
b;s work. Mr.. Thomas brought
hack to Washington three other
animals in addition to the ID rein
deer. One is an orphaned caribu,
which is actually large reindeer;
another is an orphaned porcupine
whose mother died in child birth.
The third is wounded, white
fronted goose.
Mr.. Thomas was motivated by