Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
FEEDING WILD ANIMALS.
a Strange Scene Enacted
Daily in Calcutta.
How Live Buffalo and Sheep are Fed to
Lions Tigers and Panthsrs

Lions, Tigers and Panthers,
The Geological Garden at Calcutta
is one of the great curiosities Of the
City of Palaces. Here beasts, wild
from their native Indian wilds-pan-
theirs, leopards, tigers and lions and
other fierce creatures from Africa, live
in comparative safety.
When the visitor passes the first in
closure, and has traversed a series of
well-watered and charming gardens,
he comes to half-moon, separated
from the den of felines by two sliding
gates. Turning this, he mounts to a
kind of gallery, from which he can
look down into the Enclosure, and
which is high enough to be out of
danger.
Within, the lions and tigers pass
their days in indolent ease, wandering
about with the air of monarchs retired
from business. 1t is not their native
jungle, indeed but it is far different from
the gloomy cage of menagerie. Shut
in by palisade of pointed bamboos,
they learn at last that their roaming is
checked. The spectator may study
them in every attitude, sitting like
bronze figures majestic and still, or
rolling over, distending their awful
jaws in yawns and gapes, the younger
bounding in play, or in contest with
each other.
From out some dense thicket will
stalk an old Bengal tiger to fondle its
mate or its young, and retire again to
dream of its days Of freedom.
Toward evening all the animals are
on the alert; their roars and cries be-
gin, and some come up toward the
Palisades, shutting the air. At last a
gong sounds, and is answered from
within by aperfect pandemonium, and
the animals all gather near the en-
trance. From the other side, amid the
din, maybe heard the lowing of buffalo,
the plaintive cry Of sheep. The sounds
from either side excite the others.
The wild beasts, seeming food re-
new their cries for it; their victims
hearing their natural enemies appeal
for mercy. The lions roar rises above
all as he stalks forth stately to make
his way through his subjects; the
leopard and panthers glide between
the larger animals
At last the gongs cease; the victims
have been driven up to the inner gate,
and that slowly rolls back. An awful
silence follows as the poor creatures
crowd back against the gate. Then
the bulfaloes, as if aware that there is
no escape, dash madly forward, charg-
Ing the wild beasts with their lowered
heads and horns. A gap is made, and
they plunge forward. The sheep at
tempt to follow, but their bleating is
soon drowned, as they fall beneath the
teeth and claws of the smaller felnes.
In the open space the larger animals
seem fully to enjoy the chase. A tiger
bounds on buffalo COW, and, fasten-
ing at the neck, drags it down; an old
lion, by bound, faces another, and
with blow of his terrible paw on the
sturdy forehead, fells it,
In another place a buffalo may be
seen, with glazing eyes, dlated nostrils,
holding at bay two crouching panthers;
but while thus engaged, a stealthy IT,
gress from behind scars through the
the air, and descending, fastens her
deadly claws on the throat. Down
they go, the tigress, crushed almost by
the weight of the buffalo, clawing and
tearing while the lesser beasts assail
the sturdy victim from behind, till, tot
'ering from wounds and loss of blood,
1t sinks lifeless.
In a short time the slaughter is done,
and each of the greater animals tears
off its chosen quarter and retres; then
only do the smaller animals generally
venture to approach. But if ven
turesome leopard, or even three of
them, attempt to touch body in
presence of tiger, blow or growl
soon puts them to flight.
AS the lion stalks toward a victim
all draw back, and his roar clears the
space for the lioness and cubs. On all
sides you can see and hear nothing but
the crunching of flesh and bone. the
streaming gore, till at last the stated
creatures withdraw to rest with a
final cry.
The panthers and leopards give a
sound like that Of thunderous cut;
the tigers, short note of satisfaction
the lions, a fearful roar. This thanks
after meat ended, they trim their dis
ordered fur, lick their chops, and make
their toilet.
Soon after rolling towers gather up
the remains and clear away the traces
of the feast. The 81 les Of the vehicles
are tall enough TO protect them, but
few of the satisfied animals regard
them. Here and there one will snap
at the wheels.
Such is the drama seen daily in the
Geological Garden Of Calcutta
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