In 1897 Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, V.C., was elected President for the ensuing year. The aquarium, which had been closed for alterations, was reopened by the Countess Cadogan. Out of a litter of five Cape hunting-dogs born this year only one was reared; seven lion cubs were born, all of which died.
In 1898 there were 123,806 visitors to the Gardens, and the receipts at the gates were £1,785 16s. 1d. The name of the late Dr. Haughton, for many years President of the Society, was perpetuated by the erection of ‘Haughton House,’ a building for the display of living monkeys and birds. Steps were taken to endeavour to preserve the nesting-places of the choughs. A sea-lion, the only specimen of the kind ever brought to Ireland, was acquired. Its weekly fish bill cost £1, whilst its weekly supply of water cost 10s. Two litters of Cape hunting-dog puppies were born, and a few reared by the aid of foster-mothers. The period of gestation averaged about eighty days. Many valuable donations to the Gardens were made, including monkeys, a python, squirrels, peacocks, seven crocodiles, a monitor, and several birds.
On May 19, 1899, the Haughton Memorial Building was formally opened by His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant. The Irish lion industry was now causing anxiety, and few cubs were born. A Nubian lion was bought from Herr Carl Hagenbeck to try to lay the foundation stone of a second strain. This purchase was attended with the most gratifying results, for in September a litter of three cubs was born, ‘Germania’ being the mother. Thus a new strain was established. Two months after, ‘Hypatia’ gave birth to three cubs by ‘Cæsar’; she, however, refused for the third time to rear her cubs. A goat suckled them for three days, and then a fine Irish red setter was brought into requisition as a wet-nurse. During the year a medal was instituted, to be given each year to the person who submitted the best series of animal photographs taken in the Gardens. Lord Roberts, the President of the Society, was the means of the Gardens obtaining a black buck, two axis deer, and a fine male leopard, and a large number of important gifts were made from all parts of the world. A camel calf (the first ever born in Ireland) unfortunately died in six days. The period of gestation was twelve months and twenty-one days. Two anthropoid apes died. A hybrid antelope, between Gazella subguthurosa and Antelope cervicapra, was born, also two Barbary sheep, five wolf cubs, one great wallaby hybrid, and four puma cubs.
On April 20, 1900, her late Majesty Queen Victoria visited the Gardens, and spent an hour slowly driving round the grounds and inspecting the animals. Plans were formulated for the erection of a beautiful new lion house fitted with outdoor cages. The new house was to be called ‘the Roberts’ House,’ after Lord Roberts, the President. Professor Cossar Ewart sent a number of his zebra hybrids for exhibition. They remained in the Gardens for over a month.
LION CUBS FROM SOMALILAND, DUBLIN.
(Photo by Miss Grace Eustace.)
The Irish lion industry at this time began to revive. During the first forty-four years of this industry it had periods of marked depression. From 1874 to 1878 Dr. Ball recorded that, ‘though the blood was preserved, breeding was interrupted.’ Again, between 1895 and 1898, only eighteen cubs were born in the Gardens, and of these only six were reared. Three litters were born during 1900. These were seven males and two females. The number of cubs born in the Gardens since 1857 had now reached the large total of 211, of which 112 were males, 98 females, and one of unrecorded sex. The average litter is now composed of two or three; prior to 1886 it comprised four. The famous lioness ‘Old Girl’ contributed no less than fifty-five cubs.
The stock of lions in the Gardens this year was two males, five females, and eleven cubs. A large number of presents were received, among which may be mentioned two Bengal tigers from the Nizam of Hyderabad, a black bear cub, a large python from West Africa, six giant tortoises from the Hon. Walter Rothschild, and a polar bear. A female white-tailed gnu, two Bactrian camels, and two ostriches were purchased. The sea-lion and the two fine cheetahs died, together with an ostrich, a recently acquired chimpanzee, and a male Bactrian camel.
The Royal Zoological Society of Ireland has now had an existence of seventy years, and is only four years younger than the London Zoological Society, founded in 1826.