ZOOLOGISCHER GARTEN, KÖNIGSBERG: DIRECTOR, HERR H. CLAASS
On March 23, 1897, the regular general meeting of the Zoological
Society took place in Königsberg, during which a business report of the
Society was presented. From the report brought before them by Dr. Braun
I take the following extract:
The interest caused by the Arts and Crafts Exhibition of 1895
suggested the institution of a permanent zoological and pleasure
garden in Königsberg. In the spring of 1896 the Garden was opened
to the public; the statutes were settled upon in 1895 at the first
general meeting.
The interest of the public in the Garden from the beginning was
very keen. Many presents were received of plants, animals, cages,
buildings, land, and materials.
The Garden is fifty-three morgens in extent, and is connected by
electric tramway with all parts of the city. It is planted with many
beautiful trees, bushes, and plants, and there are several ponds. The
chief entrance building is of wood. The concert-house contains seating
accommodation for 2,000 people. In the great ‘machine hall’ is a large
bicycle track, eight lawn-tennis courts, and great facilities are
offered for children’s rides and drives. Near the main restaurant is
a Viennese restaurant. In the summer there are daily concerts in the
‘36-man-strong theatre-chapel,’ and besides these on Wednesday and
Sunday there are military band concerts.
All the animal houses are newly built and favourably situated. In
February, 1896, there were 21 kinds of animals. In May Herr Carl
Hagenbeck brought the total up to 149. On September 31, 1896, there
were 893 specimens of 262 species: of animals, 299 specimens of 87
species; of birds, 533 specimens of 155 species; of reptiles, 52
specimens of 17 species; of amphibia, 9 specimens of 2 species; of
fish, 1 specimen.
In 1896, 3 lions were born, 1 hog deer, 1 kangaroo, 1 Russian
wolf-hound, 1 rabbit, 1 guinea-pig, and several rats and mice, and
some Aylesbury ducks were hatched.
Eleven and a quarter per cent. of the total value of animals was lost
during 1896. The total value of these animals amounted to £1,980.
In 1897 the second financial year was about the same as the first
year, and was considered successful; £11,995 was taken, and £9,952 was
spent, leaving a balance in hand of £2,303.
In 1897, 5 lions, 3 panthers, 3 pumas, 1 wapiti, 1 hog deer and a sika
deer, 1 Russian wolf-hound, 1 St. Bernard, several terriers, beavers,
and a Shetland pony, were born in the Garden. Three young lions, 1
brown bear, and other animals were sold. A number of sea-lions were
bought.
From February to March a Lapland Native Exhibition was held.
In July a Bird Exhibition was held.
A silver medal was obtained by the Society for its efforts in pheasant
breeding.
In 1898 the income was £12,847, and the expenditure was £9,897. Three
lions, 2 tigers, 3 brown bears, 2 agutis, 1 dwarf zebra, 1 Angora
goat, 1 wapiti, and other animals were born in the Gardens.
In 1899 the income was £13,238, and the expenditure was £10,798. The
Garden then contained 575 animals of 160 species; 827 birds of 249
species; 55 reptiles of 16 species; and 44 fish of 2 species.
The following were born in the Garden: 2 female lions, 1 kangaroo, 4
cattle, 1 antelope, 2 wapiti, 1 axis, 1 sika deer, besides numerous
other animals and birds.
A great number of dogs of various breeds were born: 78 animals (worth
£152), 295 birds (worth £104), and 151 reptiles (worth £5), were lost
during the year.
In 1900 the income was £12,175, and the expenditure was £10,981.
In 1901 the income was £13,339, and the expenditure was £12,299. In
the Garden there were 440 animals of 139 species; 981 birds of 264
species; 98 reptiles of 19 species; 26 fish of 2 species.
The following were born in the Garden: 2 lions, 1 panther, 1 zebra, 1
yak, 4 zebus, 3 asses, 1 llama, 1 guanaco, 2 red deer, 2 sika deer, 2
wapiti, 1 cross between an axis and a reindeer, 1 giant kangaroo, 6
goats.
The following died soon after birth: 1 tiger, 3 pumas, 2 brown bears,
and others.
An enormous number of animals and birds were presented during the
year. The total worth of animals in the Garden in 1901 was £3,637.
[Illustration: OSTRICH SHED, KÖNIGSBERG.]
This is a large rambling Garden, part of which is prettily situated in
a wood with a deep valley in it, at the bottom of which runs a brook.
It is difficult to find, being right outside the town. On entering and
keeping to the left, a bird-of-prey aviary is the first enclosure met
with. After this one finds a number of wapiti and other deer, and then
one comes to a large, flat, open space, upon which stand several large
buildings. There are bear dens and beer dens, the latter predominating.
There is an enormous concert-house, built in 1896, several aviaries,
a monkey house, with outside cages, fitted with swings and
rocking-horses, containing, besides the apes, some fine lemurs and a
gigantic ant bear. There are kangaroo and ostrich sheds, yaks, zebus,
and American bison enclosures, and an amusing rabbit-hutch.
Close by a racecourse is a huge white tower, from the top of which a
view of the whole course can be obtained. In the lion house were a
pair of very white lynxes from East Turkestan, which I do not remember
having seen in captivity before. There was a black leopard with young
ones (a decided novelty), and a puma with young, all born in the Garden.
At this point a man with a villainous-looking countenance appeared,
wrested my camera from me, and locked it up in the lion house.
I found that the further north-east one goes in Europe the more one is
looked upon with suspicion by the keepers, especially when they see
one’s pocket-book come out.
There was a pretty pair of cariboo with a calf, and close by them
some wild-goat and sheep pens. There was a huge flying aviary (one of
the best I have seen), with large trees and shrubs growing in it, and
a brook running through it. It contained gulls, cranes, storks, and
cormorants.
One of the prettiest houses in this Garden is that devoted to the
German native birds. Each cage has little trees in it, ivy grows round
the wire-fronts, and there are hand-painted pictures of each bird
beautifully done. The house is full of trees, plants, and evergreens.
When I got back to the lion house for my camera the keeper was nowhere
to be seen, but, after searching nearly all over the Garden for him, he
at length made his appearance, and returned me my camera.
This Garden has a really good collection, and is well worth a visit.