"UNPRECEDENTED AS FAR AS BIRDS ARE CONCERNED"

AUSTRALIAN BLACK SWAN RUNS 'AMUCK' AT ZOO, TWO FLAMINGOS SERIOUSLY INJURED, ONE OTHER ESCAPES UNHURT 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On August 17, 1925, The Evening Star reports that an Australian black swan* "ran amuck" yesterday afternoon at a waterfowl pond near the entrance to the National Zoo.

Two "scarlet flamingos" were so seriously injured by the swan that it was necessary to kill them.

A third flamingo, who narrowly escaped harm, has been placed in a pool to himself.

The Star reports that this incident is "unprecedented" as far as birds are concerned at the Zoo.  The zookeeper and other zoo personnel are quite upset by these turn of events.

*black swan is a large waterbird bred mainly in southeast & southwest Australia.  It is a nomadic large bird with black plumage & a red bill.  According to Melissa Murray of the Australian Museum, the bird is the only entirely black-colored swan in the world.

JFK+50 NOTE

There is nothing in the Star front page article saying what would be done, if anything, with the black swan.  Perhaps President Coolidge would have considered a pardon?

SOURCES

"Black Swan," by Melissa Murray, July 18, 2024, Australian Museum, www.australian.museum/

"Zoo Swan, In Murderous Craze, Fatally Wounds Two Flamingos," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., August 17, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Black Swan, RWD2.jpg

by DickDailes

htpp://www.theworldbirds.org/

"LOSS IS MOST SERIOUS WE HAVE HAD FOR SOME TIME"

'HIPAM,' NATIONAL ZOO ELEPHANT, IS DEAD

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On June 27, 1925, The Evening Star reports that 'Hipam,' beloved elephant at the National Zoological Park* passed away yesterday at the age of eight. 

The remains were buried in an unspecified location at the park yesterday.  She was one of two Summatra** elephants housed at the zoo.  An autopsy revealed the pachyderm died of "a severe case of tuberculosis."  Dr. William M. Mann***, zoo superintendent said..."The loss...is the most serious we have had for some time."

*National Zoological Park, a.k.a. National Zoo, located at 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C., (Rock Creek Park) is one of the oldest zoos in the U.S.  NZP, founded in 1889, displays 2000 animals of 400 species.  1.8 million people visit NZP yearly.

**Sumatra elephant is the rarest of 3 critically endangered Asian species.  They are the smallest elephant subspecies. (Note: "Summatra" is the spelling given in The Evening Star).

***William Montana Mann (1886-1960) was born in Helena, Montana & educated at Washington State University & Harvard University.  WMM became an entomologist & served as director of the National Zoo 1925-1956.

SOURCES 

"'Hipam', Beloved Zoo Elephant Dies After Long Fight With Disease," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., June 27, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"The Sumatra Elephant," www.bukitlawang.com/

William Mann

on 'Argentina'

Photo by Lucile Mann (1939)

Smithsonian Institution Archives