CHAPTER XV 



ZOOLOGISCHER GARTEN, DUSSELDORF : DIRECTOR, 

 INSPECTOR GOFFART 



The Zoological Garden at Dlisseldorf is owned by a 

 company with a capital of 35,000 shares. The open- 

 ing of the Garden took place on May 31, 1896. The 

 portion laid aside for animals (not including planta- 

 tions, greenhouses, pasture-land, etc.) is about twenty- 

 seven and a half acres. Taking into consideration 

 that Dlisseldorf is not a town which is much resorted 

 to by visitors, and that it is so close to Cologne, where 

 it has a powerful rival, the stock of animals in the 

 Garden is not a bad one. There is a good collection of 

 monkeys, bears, and carnivorous animals generally. 

 There are a fair number of rodents, a large number of 

 deer, six bison, and a large herd of Barbary sheep. 

 There is also a number of horses and asses for children 

 to ride and drive. 



The birds are numerous, especially the birds of prey, 

 singing-birds, parrots, poultry, pigeons, ostriches, and 

 cassowaries. There are some fine ponds for the ducks, 

 and a gigantic aviary 6,000 cubic yards in extent. 

 An artistic-looking ruin, like the Castle of Heidelburg, 

 cost £2,700. 



The yearly cost of food, which is about £1,600, gives 



