178 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1958 
the animal department now has centralized and consolidated their 
mealworm raising. 
A new map of the National Zoological Park, showing the location 
of all buildings and exhibits, was prepared, and copies of it, suitably 
framed, have been placed at various locations throughout the Park. 
Following the tragic death of a little girl who was mauled by a 
lion in the Zoo on May 16, 1958, a study was begun to eliminate any 
danger points in the buildings and grounds. Wire mesh has been 
placed on some of the guard rails, and further precautions will be 
taken when the report of an independent committee investigating 
safety measures has been completed. The National Zoological Park 
has always had a fine record of safety: since 1908, when records were 
first kept of the number of annual visitors, approximately 115,000,000 
people have visited the Zoo without one instance of serious injury. 
The accident in May resulted in the first fatality. 
The work of the gardener’s force has been mainly that of removing 
dead trees, which are a menace to both animals and visitors, and 
replacing them with young trees. The animal department is furnished 
with forage which is very beneficial for animals. Heavy logs for the 
big cats to climb, perches and sawed hollow logs for small mammals, 
gnawing logs for rodents, and perches for birds are supplied on de- 
mand, and tropical plants for indoor cages and the buildings are 
supplied and cared for. 
The accumulation of trash is still a major problem, although the 
installation of larger trash receptacles and a number of “litter-bug” 
signs posted at strategic spots have helped in keeping the Park 
presentable. 
With the increase in the number of visitors, the work of the police 
in maintaining order and protecting the public and the animals is 
constantly growing. New police officers have been authorized for next 
year, and temporary men are appointed for the summer months, but 
the force is still inadequate. The number of visitors who stopped at 
police headquarters to ask for information or to receive first aid was 
7,000. 
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE 
Owing to lack of appropriated funds, no major improvements were 
undertaken during the fiscal year. The old buildings continue to 
deteriorate, and even the newest exhibition building is now 21 years old 
and needs painting and repairs. Ten enclosures, including the pools 
for exhibition of aquatic mammals, have been abandoned for nearly 
11 years. It is hoped that in the near future funds will be appropri- 
ated for the following badly needed new construction and improve- 
ments: 
