European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 02, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse Pppe 16 the stars and stripes thursday May 2, 1953 mini zoos for mini people by Mary Ann Reese staff writer late Ernest Hemingway used to spend hours at circuses talking to the Polar bears Lions and other wild animals. He claimed they would respond to what he said. He was especially fascinated by circus animals which he Felt took on some of the human qualities of their two logged fellow workers. Then of course there was the famous or. Dolittle who got along better with mis animal friends than with his human Man and animal can actually talk to each other or not they do seem to share a curiosity about each other s strange habits. Man s fascination for the animals who share his Earth is As old As Lime and the mania for collecting animals As old As Noah. In ancient China , the first King of the Chou dynasty in the Early part of the 12th Century ., exhibited specimens from various provinces of his Empire in his Garden of Ashur Akbar one of the Early Kings of Nineveh sent expeditious to capture animals which were brought to the Cap ital and housed according to their names. Solomon had monkeys and peacocks and Nebuchadnezzar his Lions. Aristotle kept a collection of live things brought to him by men of Alexander s army. And the romans kept Lions tigers and leopards in numbers far exceeding any thing today. Most of these were used in the Arenas in gladiatorial and other combats. In 29 Octavius Augustus quite a student of natural history was pro Downer of 420 tigers 260 Lions and 600 african animals including cheetahs panthers one Rhinoceros one Hippopotamus several seals bears elephants eagles 36 crocodiles and 1 Serpent 25meters Long. During medieval times zoos were re stored sometimes As civic institutions As in Florence but More often As private menagerie of the nobility. Recent decades have seen a change in the complexion and goals of zoos. As cities and towns grow and continue to exploit nature s landscapes Andas or Lynn populations increase Man gets further away from nature. Parents find their youngsters Wise in the ways of space and rocket ships believe milk comes from bottles and Lamb chops from cellophane wrap. They can t Tell a co from a horse. So zoological gardens once reserved for exotic animals from Distant lands now often include the More common local species. Many cities have devel oped children s zoos with collections of Small tame animals youngsters can play with and feed. Zoos also Are no longer limited to larger Urban areas. Private societies join with town fathers to develop mini zoos. Sprouting throughout Europe these Small zoos usually Are aimed at providing a place for youngsters to study nature and wildlife first hand. A classic example is the vivarium of Darmstadt. Germany. From Humble beginnings of a few animals living in Anold hot House the zoo has grown in a few years to a Park like area with aquariums aviary insects lizards and snakes As Well As monkeys ponies goats camels a variety of asian my african cows and a collection of tropical plants including several meat eating varieties. It s Small enough that children can absorb its wonders on one visit and Large enough to give a Good nature study. Open the year around it s a pop ular Field trip for schoolchildren and sometimes attracts As Many As 16 to 21 classes on one less energetic adults there an benches to sit and watch the animals Only thing is that sometimes one gets the uneasy feeling he s not the Only one laughing at what goes on behind the fences. What s that Monkey doing with thai Grin on his face cup m to the fils second graders from Darmstadt s american elementary school make themselves at Home in local vivarium a mini zoo. Beverly Tyler cuddles timid Friend while pols watch. Walter Sivley 8, is fascinated by or. Camel and his wife but does t think he d care to share their lunch
