Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-02-17
TRAINING WILD BEASTS.
How Ferocious Animals Are Taught :,
Obey Their Keepere.

Obey Their Keepers.
Tho training is simple, persistent and
effective The king Of boasts when con-
qucred is like lamb. and the young
lions are tanned one at time. For
several days the animal Is well fed.
He Is tempted to thrust his fore paws
out in front OF the den. Over them is
slipped moose, and the feet are then
firmly tied down. The lion at once be-
gins to roar and thrash his tail and
hind legs about the cage After time
ho quiets down and the keepers enters
the den. With dexterous movement
n bag is drawn down over the lions
head. The keeper sometimes bestridos
his back, and holds his seat by tighten
ing his legs around the body and grasp
ing the name of the animal. In the
head covering is usually sponge, sat
urated with about eight ounces of
chloroform. The lion will try TO shake
off the keeper, but is powerless when
his fore paws are tied down. In mo-
ment or two the beast becomes uncon-
scious. Other trainers then enter the
den. Great attention and care is exer-
cised over the pulsations OF the lions
heart. The pulse is felt under the lower
jaw the same MS in horse. 1t is dan
gerOus to ethcrize or chloroform an an
imal of the cat species too severely, and
the instant the pulsations becomes at
all feeble the dose has to be lightened.
When the keeper becomes satisfied
that the animal is unconscious, they
begin operations upon his teeth. The
canine, bicuspids and incisors are cut
of. 1t requires great deXterity to
know how far in the crown to cut with
out laying the nerve bare. After the
operations on the teeth are finished,
the keeper clips the claws, and in a
few moments the lion is bereft of his |
teeth and claws. A heavy collar and
chain are fastened around his neck. |
and when he comes to consciousness he |
is very different beast than before.
The keepers will enter the cage at
short intervals after this. and should
the lion attempt to spring the chain re-
tards him, and the keeper at once ad-
ministers a sharp rap with raw-hide
whip. The lion. deprived Of his teeth
and claws, soon becomes cowardly.
He is kept well fed, and If too ferocious
is drugged until he becomes used to his
keepers presence in the cage.
Tigers are more difficult to conquer.
Their teeth and claws are cut off in
similar manner to those of the lion.
Tigers are more treacherous. and will
spring at keeper unexpectedly and
without any warning whatever. They
are drugged and kept chained for a
long time, and often hogged into SUBJ
Leopards and panthers are easily
tanned. With the wolf and the hyena
the keepers fear only the teeth. They
are "dog-footcd. and do not strike
like cat animal. Their teeth are cut,
and good club will do the rest.
The operation upon the long tusks
of the baboon is so painful and ap-
parently so inhuman as to call for
Henry Bergh's interference. The
keepers will secure baboons paws
and legs and draw the creature close
up to the bars of his cage. The head
will be tied also. After he is made
fast his long tusks are sawed off. The
baboon is subject to tooth-ache, and
his teeth are extremely sensitive
When the saw cuts through to the
nerve the poor beast will utter the most
piercing shrieks and howls. To allay
the pain, toothache drops of oil of
cloves, oil of cajuput and chloroform
are poured in the teeth and tar rubbed
on to keep out the air.
After the operation is over the keeper
the fastcnings are removed
and the baboon allowed to recover
After such an operation the baboon sell
dom shows disposition to attack a
man. 1t is. therefore, not so wonderful
after all that the man-eaters and all
sorts of carniverous animals are para
ded through the streets with keepers
among them. Timid people should
take heart and remember that animals
clipped, drugged and chained in cages
are not possessed of such ferocious in
stincts as those of their native wilds.-
Cor. 81. Louis Globe Democrat.
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