CHAPTER XXIII
ZOOLOGISCHER GARTEN, BRESLAU: DIRECTOR, HERR GRABOWSKY
On March 9, 1863, Dr. Elwanger and Herr von Ruffer formed a private company with a view to the creation of a Zoological Garden in Breslau. A prospectus was issued to win sympathy and interest for the undertaking, and shares were allotted. The price of each share was fixed at £10, and directly the number of shares rose to 6,000 it was agreed that the work should be started. In September, 1863, the work was begun, a deserted meadow being changed into a park; early in the spring of 1864 the buildings were commenced. Many valuable presents of trees and bushes made the task easier for the committee, whilst a quantity of rather premature presents of animals made it difficult, as there were no houses or attendants ready for them.
At the direction of the committee the local architect was sent on a tour of several Zoological Gardens, in order to look at their buildings and obtain hints as to the nature of the accommodation required for the different animals and birds.
In June, 1864, Dr. Franz Schlegel was appointed the Director. The first general meeting of the shareholders took place on February 20, 1865. Twenty shareholders were chosen to act on the Board, only two of whom remain alive. In 1864 and 1865, besides a row of smaller buildings, the following were erected: a bear pit, a wolf house, a swine house, a deer enclosure, a pheasantry, a buffalo house, a camel house, an owl house, an eagle house, a small-cats’ house, a pay-office, a restaurant, and a music-hall. The monkey house was begun in 1865 and finished in 1866. When all these houses and enclosures had been completed and filled with animals, the opening of the Garden by officials and heads of different guilds took place on July 10, 1865. The illuminations in the grounds were spoilt by a bad storm. The Garden had bad times, but to-day its financial position is satisfactory, its buildings are in good condition, and its collection has increased enormously.
The elephants bathe, weather permitting, at 6 p.m. The lions are fed at 4 p.m. Pony riding and goat-carriages are only allowed in summer.
In 1901 the income derived from ordinary entrance-tickets was £3,915. This was lower than in 1900, owing to the universal depression in all trades and professions. Consul Ernst Bauer, who had been a Director for twenty years, died during that year. Concerts were given every Sunday and Wednesday in the winter months, and in the summer months every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, besides special concerts during the holidays. Penny morning concerts were also given.
The stock in the Garden at the end of 1901 was: 541 animals, 937 birds, 116 reptiles; total, 1,594 head.
MONKEY HOUSE, BRESLAU.
In 1900 the total head was 1,619. The following were born in the Garden in 1901: 346 animals of 35 species, including 3 lions, 2 leopards, 1 brown bear, 5 wolves, 2 kangaroos, 1 Shetland pony, 1 zebra, 1 llama, 1 camel, 2 nylgai antelopes, several deer, goats and sheep, some Angora cats, and a number of small rodents. Several of the above, however, died soon after birth.
Many silver pheasants, peacocks, storks, and other birds were hatched, and many animals were presented and bought. The loss of animals during 1901 was 5 per cent. of the total value of the stock, against 10 per cent. of the total stock in 1900. Of the more valuable animals there died during the course of the year: 1 lioness, from an old lung trouble; 1 pair of panthers, from tuberculosis of the lungs; 1 drill, from consumption; 1 old steinbock, from inflammation of the intestines; 3 beavers, from old age; 2 red-necked kangaroos, from consumption; 1 nylgai, from catarrh of the stomach; 1 white llama, from old age; 1 male ostrich, from peritonitis; 1 swan, from wounds received from the spurs of a goose.
On entering this Garden my camera, for the second time during my tour of the Continental Zoos, was wrested from me, in spite of my pleadings in the very best German I could muster.
Passing some pheasant pens, the lion house is first encountered, containing, amongst other animals, three baby lions and two baby Himalayan bears. A second house of carnivorous animals contained more lions, two caracals, some pumas, some small cats, and hyænas, including a specimen of the brown hyæna, rarely seen in zoological collections.
A remarkably fine elephant house contained a large African elephant, two Indian elephants, two black-and-white tapirs from Sumatra (the first I had seen in captivity), and two hippopotami together in a huge tank. But the animal for which this Garden is justly famous is the huge black-faced ape, known as the gorilla from West Africa, the only known specimen in captivity in the world. Curiously enough, this priceless animal was purchased from England. What a pity it did not find its way into our London Zoo! Since writing the above, Herr Carl Hagenbeck of Hamburg informs me that he is expecting a young gorilla, which has been caught for him in West Africa. The ape is housed in a large and lofty cage with glass front in the monkey house. I should say it was quite young, and not yet half grown. It was not particularly lively on the occasion of my visit, but spent its time in picking its nose and staring at the huge crowd.
There was an amusing chimpanzee in the next cage, and close by some large baboons. The exterior of this monkey house is very prettily built and decorated. The next house of importance is the antelope house, containing brindled gnus, water-buck, nylgai, zebras, camels, asses, and Shetland ponies. In the centre of the Garden, as usual, there was a band-stand surrounded by countless seats, not far from a restaurant. Here a good band played all the afternoon, and the crowd round it was large. There were the usual sheds for American buffaloes (I wish I had counted how many of these animals I have now seen in captivity), yaks, and zebus.
DUCK-POND, BRESLAU.
There was a large collection of bears in a castle, and a great number of wild sheep and goat pens. In a little house I noticed a litter of six pretty little foxes. There were some large duck-ponds, and several deer sheds and paddocks. Here I noticed (May 20) a sambur deer and a Sumatran sambur (Servus equinus), just out of the velvet—the first I have seen this year. There was a large bird-of-prey house, effectively backed with rockery, containing some remarkable birds, notably the bateleur eagle from Africa, the handsome Brazilian Œnops urubitinga, Sarcorhamphus papa from tropical South America, Vultur occipitalis, Aquila nævia, Buteo buteo, Grys indicus, and many others. This fine aviary was given in 1898 by Robert Cuno.
Another really beautiful house was the tropical small-birds’ house with glass roof, the centre of the hall being filled with plants, ferns, flowers, palms, and some lovely orchids. The cages contained many rare and gorgeously coloured birds from the tropics. Spermestes mirabilis, a little gem from Australia, took my fancy, and there were hundreds of brilliant paroquets and parrots.
Taken all round, this Garden has a remarkably fine collection of animals and birds, and should rank about sixth among the Gardens in Europe.