Is It Hard to Feed an Animal Its Natural Diet in Zoos
No wonder they tell you not to feed the animals! Zoo's historic ledger books reveal how too much food killed some of its attractions
- Some of the captive creatures died after being 'overfed by the public'
- Others died of 'senile decay' or were killed by vandals
- Some baby wallabies died after being 'thrown out of pouch'
- The fascinating ledger from the 1938-1971 goes up for auction next week
- It details animals' health, sex, life expectancy, price and cause of death
- Some were sold to other zoos or circuses, given as gifts or loaned out
- Two ring-necked parakeets were exchanged for two porcupines and fish
It's no wonder zoos tell visitors not to feed the animals.
A dusty old ledger has revealed that some captive creatures at a Manchester zoo died from overfeeding by the public.
The fascinating record from Belle Vue in Manchester details the sex, life expectancy and cause of death for creatures living at the zoo between 1938 and 1971.
These range from 'senile decay' to 'killed by dog' to 'overfed by public'.
Irresistible: Some animals at the popular Manchester zoo died after being 'overfed by the public'. Pictured, Stephanie Taylor cuddles a pair of puma cubs
Family album: Entries for big cats started in 1952, with many arriving from or going to other zoos or circuses
Revealing: The dusty old ledger from Belle Vue Zoo for 1938-1971 was found in a house in Wales
The wallabies suffered even more unpleasant ends, the ledger - which is being auctioned off in Wales on Tuesday - shows.
Some were listed as 'killed by dog', while others were babies that were 'thrown out of pouch'.
Polecats and coypus were killed by vandals, while nine cockatiels and eight Barbary doves were presumed stolen, the latter from the children's zoo.
Twenty-four grass snakes meet end in 1961 by being fed to a cobra, while a speckled caiman died mysteriously in 1963 while 'on loan to firm for window display'.
Mona, a Guenon monkey, was shot dead in an attempt to escape in the same year.
Showtime: A chimps' tea party became an attraction at the zoo in 1963, with at least nine performers
Yvonne the elephant's story had a happier ending. She was purchased for £200 in 1939, but described as 'poor specimen many faults' on arrival and 'should not have been put on exhibition'.
Nevertheless, she remained until 1962, when she was humanely put down.
Long life: A baby giraffe is fed from a bottle of milk by a zookeeper, with his vital stats noted down in the book
One of the oldest inhabitants was Nicholas the hippo who arrived on December 5, 1938.
He was valued at £500, £25 for each of the 20 years he was expected to live. He died suddenly on January 8, 1967.
Entries for big cats started in 1952, with many arriving from or going to other zoos and circuses.
Sally, a lioness, was acquired from Robert Bros in 1959 for £50 and sold to Chipperfield's in 1967.
The price is not recorded, although Chiffy, a leopard, was purchased in 1961 for £115 and sold to Blackpool Tower Circus in 1965 for £100.
That same year, two ring-necked parakeets were part-exchanged with the Tower for two porcupines and fish.
Among the first chimpanzees listed was Robert. His condition was satisfactory but he was 'too old to train'.
A chimps' tea party was a new attraction at the zoo in 1963, by which time there were at least nine performers.
The only section where detail is less precise for fish.
A stock take in 1961 starts at No 1 - Black Shark - and ends in 1970 at No 506: Selected coral fish, purchase price: £23/11/0.
Belle Vue Zoo was the third largest in the UK in its heyday, before it closed in 1977.
The large Twinlock hard-backed file entitled Zoological Records Belle Vue (Manchester) Ltd - which measures 18 x 15 inches and weighs 11lbs - will now be auctioned off.
Tome: The book will be sold by Colwyn Bay fine art auctioneers Rogers Jones Co next week
Brief glimpse: The famous zoo featured on BBC's Children's Hour, closed in 1977 - but its story lives on
Unique: Auctioneers say the ledger is an 'amazing glimpse' behind the scenes at the zoo
The book - which was found during a clear-out of a house in North Wales - will be sold by Colwyn Bay fine art auctioneers Rogers Jones Co next week.
Auctioneer David Rogers Jones said: 'We were called in to clear a house in Corwen and found the ledger among the contents. How it got there we have no idea.
'It gives an amazing glimpse behind the scenes of what the public saw, listing each species, its sex, date of arrival of each animal, who supplied it, how much it cost, its life expectancy, condition on arrival and the date of its disposal, whether it was sold, exchanged, loaned, gifted or died.
'It has to be a unique record, but what monetary value to put on it would be pure guesswork.'
The ledger is on public view this Sunday, from 2pm-4pm; on Monday, from 1pm-7pm; and on the morning of the sale from 9am-10.15am.
- For further information, contact the auctioneers on 01492 532176 or info@rogersjones. co.uk
Tough: One wallaby was 'killed by dog' and another 'thrown out pouch'. Pictured, wallaroos at the zoo
Amazing tail: The notes include details of each animal's health and price. Pictured, Victor the lion in the 1930s
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2268310/No-wonder-tell-feed-animals-Zoos-historic-ledger-books-reveal-food-killed-attractions.html
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