Zoos in War-time

Abstract

THE North of England Zoological Society has maintained the collection at Chester during the first year of the War with little less than normal standards, despite a reduced staff and an increased stock due to evacuation from elsewhere. A noteworthy event has been the successful rearing of a young bird by the pair of griffon vultures; these birds have nested annually in recent years and previously hatched a chick, but they had not before succeeded in rearing it to maturity. The young bird is now fully fledged and the Society considers this a breeding record in British aviculture. The collection has received a pair of the wolves spared when the well-known pack of wolves at the Edinburgh Zoo was destroyed. The Chester Zoo is well stocked with lions and leopards, from which it is hoped to restock the depleted zoos of Europe when peace returns. The Society has just issued its monthly reports from June in a combined publication, and notes that it was the pioneer of the animal-adoption scheme later utilized with success by London, Edinburgh and Bristol: “We feel that it is in the country's interest that we should keep the Zoos alive to fulfil once again their functions when peace returns,” states the Secretary.