Originally published in the Manchester Guardian on 31 March 1932
A newly born baby zebra, neglected by its mother, is being brought up on the bottle and seems likely to flourish. At first it was very weak and, according to its keeper, did the splits when it tried to stand, but after a drink or two more power crept into its legs. Zebras are very suspicious and wild. They must be sure that everything is all right before they venture into a new place, and when they are lassoed and roped they have been known to fight to the death.
In the reptile-house two young bearded lizards from Australia may be seen. If you tickle their heads they swell out the membrane under their chins. This gives them the appearance of having a dark round beard like a Rabbi, hence their name "Jew lizard". They are provided with prickles to discourage larger creatures from taking them in their mouths.
It was with the greatest difficulty that the Zoo authorities could discover the proper food for mastigures, but after a series of trials and errors marigolds and dandelions werefound to be the solution, so now the two new specimens from India are well provided for. Two mastigures in the old reptile-house refused food with great determination, until one day they saw a child peeling an orange, whereupon they went mad. It was supposed that they liked the colour, for although they would not eat the orange, they condescended to lick some persimmons, and eventually fell for marigolds. They need terrific heat, and lie on sand with the thermometer at 90deg. They are never seen to drink; apparently they are used to heavy dews, for they absorb water through their backs when the keeper sprinkles them.
Sumbawa, the Komodo Dragon, who was bitten by Sumba, has now discarded his bandage. As these giant lizards go for anything white, thinking it may be a white rat, the bandage had to be stained with friar's balsam to prevent Sumba nosing round it.
Twelve dingo puppies are on view, also an Anoa calf. It is only recently that the society has been successful in breeding these dwarf cattle. In the sanatorium are two newly arrived opossums, so rare that the Natural History Museum authorities have had to be consulted. Two beautiful young Goliath herons have arrived from Africa in perfect condition. The coloration now is inky purple, rusty reddish purple, and cream colour, but it will darken into a uniform inky colour as the birds grow older. A flock of flamingoes is destined for Whipsnade. They look brilliantly pink and white at present, but in time their rosy legs and dazzling plumage will become bleached and dimmed by this horrible climate.