The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-07-11
LAssO BEAR FOR OPERATION.
Also an Experiences of Keepers Of
Two Gray Wolves.

Livery OACe III II we Iedu VI
some surgical operation which has
been performed on some dangerous
brute in one or the other of our big
ZOOS, but Of the equally interesting
adventures which some Of the keep
ers have with their beasts nothing
much is published" said a veterinary
surgeon in the New York Times. Il
don't know why animal men should
feel so, but it seems the law in every
menagerie that nothing that would
show trouble in managing the big
beasts must leak out if it can be
helped.
'Not long ago there was a danger
Gus operation that left but little time
to think in the case Of Bruno, one of
the Central park grizzly bears. In
some inexplicable way the big brute
had managed to get hold of the end
of a piece of bale wire which some
spectator must have dragged after
him from the rubbish heap behind
the buffalo ranges. TWAS all the big
gray clown wanted to make life hap
Ply. He pulled the wire through the
bars, got it wrapped about his fore
paws and the thick hair on his back
and when discovered he was fighting
mad tearing at the invisible foe who
was tightening more and more on
him and was cutting deep into his
flesh.
"The alarm that something had
gone wrong with the dangerous brute
reached the elephant house, and
Billy Snyder came on a run with as
~sistants, lassos, and tackle ready to
capture the bear, which, it was
thought, had gone into commissions.
The object was to enter the bears
den, to lasso the grizzly, and after
he was safely secured to examine
him, and, if necessary, to give him a
dose of medicine to help him over
the fit.
"The bear was finally roped about
the foreIeos. and swapping and
snarling and striking with his hind
paws. was dragged till his legs could
be secured by sings and till a
ch%loroform bag could be slipped over
his head. Within a few minutes he
was under the effect of the drug and
it became safe to go near him, but
wire nippers, not medicine for con-
vulsions, was what was needed to re-
establish his peace Of mind. The
wire had twisted into the thick pelt
of hair and was slow and difficult to
unravel, and it was not until Ian
terms were brought to aid in the work
that the operation was finally COM
pleted.
"Another interesting operation
that took place in the same menag-
erie not long ago was to cut off a pair
of collars that had grown too tight on
the necks of a pair of large gray
wolves. When the animals were first
put into their house they were mere
cubs. and it was not noticed among
their thick fur that each wore 8
leather collar about the neck, BY the
time Dick and Nellie were full grown
the collars had grown almost into
the flesh and interfered with swal
lowing as well as with free breath.
ing, 1t was necessary, therefore, tt
cut off the collars.
"Most persons would look atawolf
standing several inches higher than
agreyhound, as too dangerous a brut,
to approach without p%recaution
but to an experienced animal man
wolf is a mere incident, not to b
feared so long as he is boldlyattacked
A pair Of huge butterfly nets on long
stout poles were thesonly weapons o
/ o%ffense, except a penknife. The rim
Of the nets were nearly two feet il
S diameter, and instead Of light gauz
' the bag consisted of canvas, but tn
: continuance looked decidedly made
quate for SO formidable a job.
z at seemed as if the animals ha,
: made the acquaintance Of these net
: before, for no sooner was one of then
: thrust into the cage than both brute
t shrank into a far corner where the
snarled and showed their teeth an,
: got ready for leaping, while tw
I keepers entered the cage through
small iron sliding door.
"0uicker than II takae tn tall N