Roya Orico’s menagerie in the Zangre was a collection of animals from many areas. At the time of The Curse of Chalion, it had been in existence for about six years. Orico visited frequently and spent time feeding and currying some of the animals such as the leopard and the bears. The menagerie, located outside the walls of the Zangre attached to the stables, had been under the charge of the groom Umegat since its beginning, with assistance from other grooms. Quarters for the grooms were above the stabling area for the animals.
The menagerie, through Umegat, hosted a miracle of the Bastard which delayed the effects of the curse of Chalion on Orico’s health. Dondo dy Jironal planted the false idea with Royse Teidez that the menagerie was instead a form of Roknari black magic that harmed Orico, which led to Teidez slaughtering all of the animals except one small blue-and-yellow bird.
Animals mentioned included:
- Leopard
- Black bears
- Large “perch bird” that is bright green with a yellow breast and red throat - a former sailor’s bird with a rude vocabulary, brought to the menagerie by Martou dy Jironal
- Other large brightly colored birds
- Tiny brightly colored birds
- Vellas - goat-like animals from beyond the Archipelago
- Mountain cats with tufted ears from south Chalion, golden colored and one albino with black ear tufts
- Archipelago sand foxes with large, triangular ears
The crows of the Zangre were not part of the menagerie.