Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1896 — THE WORLD'S GREATEST ZOO. [ARTICLE]

THE WORLD'S GREATEST ZOO.

New York Is to Have One That Will Cover 3O;» Acree, New York is to have a zoological garden that will surpass anything of the kind ever before known. Plans have nearly been completed by the New York Zoological Society, which is made up of some of

the representative men of the metropolis, to give that city a zoo that will be in keeping with its importance. The biggest existing zoological garden has sixty-six acres, but the one proposed will greatly exceed these figures. A site for the garden has not yet beep selected, but 300 acres will be set aside somewhere in the city for the purpose. When a suitable place is found buildings, etc., will be erected and the society will make a call for popular subscriptions. It is hoped by this means to raise $250,000, •which the Legislature will be asked to increase to >400,000.

A new principle will be carried out in regard to the wild animals, that of placing native and foreign animals of the tropical, temperate and colder regions as far as possible among their natural surroundings. It will be possible to do this, considering the large area that will be at the disposal of the society. The larger animals of North America will be shown in the free range of large inclosures, in which the rocks, forests and natural features of the landscape will give the people an impression of the life, habits and native surroundings of these different types. It is proposed that the lion house shall open into a sandy inclosure in which palms and other tropical plants will give a perfect impression of the natural habitat of the lion. The first main feature will be the collection of native animals, many of which are rapidly becoming extinct. The value of exhibiting them under natural condition will be very great.