NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK HOLLISTER 261 



card. The name, sex, age, history so far as known, and condition 

 are all entered. The subsequent historj'^ of the animal is recorded 

 on the back of its card so that the records of accidents, sicknes?, 

 births, or any other important incident in its life are readily ascer- 

 tained. On the removal of the animal by death, exchange, or for 

 other reason the final chapter in its life in the zoo is entered on the 

 card and the card is transferred from the file of living exhibits to 

 the permanent file of past residents of the park. If the animal dies, 

 the cause of death, with the autopsy report, is entered with the final 

 record. The information thus readily available on any animal or 

 group of animals kept in the park since its foundation is often of 

 great importance, and the value of the complete records increases 

 from year to year. 



In every community of 1,600 or 1,700 people, some one is pretty 

 likely to be ill. It is so in the zoo. Every day each animal is care- 

 fully observed and any signs of illness are promptly reported to 

 the head keeper. Most of the ailments are slight, and prompt re- 

 covery follows proper attention. If necessary, the animal is removed 

 to the hospital building for isolation and better facilities for treat- 

 ment. Always there are deaths, but the rate is very low, and, as 

 mentioned before, many species are kept long beyond the usual period 

 of life for a wild animal. Old age is protected and prolonged in the 

 zoo ; in the wild state all animals past their prime are liable to tragic 

 ends. 



