World Notes

When officials of the financially strapped London Zoo let it be known that they may be forced to close the world's oldest animal park -- and perhaps even kill off some of its 8,000 inhabitants -- many expected there would be an outpouring of sympathy, and cash, from animal-loving Britons.

But a surprising number cried good riddance to the 40-acre Regent's Park facility, which was established by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1828 for the "introduction of curious subjects to the animal kingdom." Janet Fookes, head of Parliament's animal-rights committee, said closing the zoo would be a "major step forward for animal welfare," while Will Travers, director of the anti-zoo campaign Zoo Check, argued that "keeping animals in captivity for entertainment" could no longer be justified.

Nevertheless, the zoo's switchboard last week was jammed by callers offering support and money, and four newspapers put in bids to become sponsors. Whether this will raise the $23 million the zoo says it needs to survive is unclear. But Zoological Society director David Jones has put the closing plan on hold -- and he insists that the zoo never had any intention of slaughtering its animals.