The zoological gardens of Europe, their history and chief featuresPeel, C. V. A. (Charles Victor Alexander)
History
The zoological gardens of Europe, their history and chief features
Peel, C. V. A. (Charles Victor Alexander)
Zoos
The kangaroo house next engages our attention, where are to be found
examples of the red kangaroo, Bennet’s Wallaby, etc. Many breed here.
The enclosures which surround the kangaroos contain many species of
deer. There is the deer from the Moluccas, sika deer from Japan, the
axis deer from India, etc. Close by are coach-houses and stables
capable of holding ninety horses. These recently erected buildings,
together with the old stables, can now hold 250 horses, which form
a very complete collection. Here are to be seen also an interesting
series of ponies from Java, Siam, Cochin China, Shetland, Ireland,
Russia, Corsica, Navarre, Finland, etc. There are also many mules.
At the end of the stables is a riding-school for the breaking-in of
horses and the teaching of riding. In 1874 a special riding-school was
inaugurated for children, their mounts being all little ponies. Close
to the stables is a gymnasium, with horizontal bars, trapeze, ropes,
etc., which is for the free use of children, who amuse themselves in
it whilst they wait their turn to ride the elephants and camels. The
charge for a camel or dromedary ride is 50 centimes; elephant ride, 25
centimes; ostrich-cart, 50 centimes; donkey-cart, trotting zebu-cart,
goat-cart, and llama-cart, 25 centimes; saddle-horse, 50 centimes.
Tickets are obtained at a kiosk close by.
The African elephant Juliette was a present from Victor Emmanuel, the
late King of Italy, together with Romeo, who died in 1886. It will be
remembered that these elephants replaced Castor and Pollux, which were
sold to the butchers for 27,000 francs during the Siege of Paris in
1870. Close to the large stable is a house containing the yaks from
Thibet. The cross between a yak and a zebu is called a ‘dzo.’ In the
large stables are to be seen the South American tapirs and the wart
hogs from Africa. Burchell’s zebra and a pretty ‘mountain’ zebra are
found in the same building. By the side of the zebras are the kiangs
from High Asia and Mongolia. There are also many hybrid animals and
100 guinea-pigs in one loose-box. The right side of the big stables
is inhabited by a large giraffe; this is the last survivor of a herd
received from Abyssinia in 1872, which has bred several times in the
Garden.
On the other side of the main road is a large lawn, which serves during
the day to pasture the large ruminants. Here are held the yearly
exhibitions.
The following exhibitions have been held: In 1877, the Eskimos and
Nubians; in 1878, the Laps and Russians; in 1879, the Nubians; in 1883,
the Cingalese and Red Indians; in 1886, the Cingalese; in 1887, the
Ashantis; in 1888, the Hottentots, Cossacks, and Circassians; in 1889,
the Laps and Norwegians; in 1890, the Somalis; in 1891, the Dahomeans.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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