CHAPTER VII 

 ANIMAL SANCTUARIES 



THAT mankind has at last realised his respon- 

 sibilities towards the wild animals which 

 populate the earth is made manifest by the efforts 

 he has made of late years to afford them a certain 

 amoimt of protection against the commercial and 

 sporting instincts of a section of the community, 

 and although, unfortunately, some creatures have 

 been hunted and slaughtered to such an extent 

 as to leave little hope of their ever again being 

 plentiful in their haunts, yet, happily, it is not too 

 late to save others from a similar fate. There can 

 be no doubt that, in the majority of countries at 

 aU events, animals receive greater consideration 

 and more humane treatment at the present day 

 than they did in the past, and the various societies 

 which work on behalf of the dumb creatures have 

 rendered a great service in the cause of humanity. 

 But apart from aU sentimental reasons, it is the 

 duty of the present generation of mankind to assure 

 that the living races of animals be preserved for 

 the enjoyment and use of posterity ; while, more- 

 over, it has been forcibly brought to our notice 



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