The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-16
TRAPPING LIONS AND TIGERS
WHITE MEN LEARN TIE SECRET
OF TAKING BEASTS OF PREY,

Method DISCRIMINATING Tropical Pests.
A new way Of dealing with formidabl.
wild animals lie now being widely employed
in tropical regions.
Until within a few years efforts 10 trap
the larger beasts Of prey were nearly always
unsuccessful. Extraordinary precautions
were taken In setting the traps. very strong
traps we're provided, the traps were kent
from rust and were handled with instru.
ments 30 that odor from the human hand
might not be peroeptible; but in vain.
These precautions are now thrown to the
winds. Under the new plan white men are
having great success in trapping lions.
tigers, leopards, bears. hyenas, jackals and
many others Of the less famous providers.
These animals eau great loss Of cattle
and other domestic creatures ano also
cost the lives OF many human beings every
year. The Governments in nearly all
tropical countries now have olose times
during which the hunting Of harmless wild
animals. such as elephants. zebras and
antelopes is forbidden in order that they
may have an opportunity TO breed and thus
be sa we'd from extinction. But the pro-
tectinR arm of the law IL not extended over
beasts Of prey.
Specially strong steel traps are now en-
ployed for catching these animals. The
jaws Of the traps are s o deep that when a
lion sets foot upon the spring the trap
closes Upon the leg above the knee and
within two or three inches Of the body.
An advertisement Of a certain German
trap appearing in a colonial newspaper
last month has an affidavit asserting that on
a certain plantation in German East Africa
l05 beasts Of prey, including lions, leopards
and hyenas. were successfully trapped last
year. The fact that the determination Of
these animals by trapping now appears 10
be practicable is the cause Of much rejoicing
among tropical colonists.
Wherever one or more species OF the
larger beasts exist they are a source al
trouble TO white men who are opening
farms or raising live stock. 1t Is no serious
undertaking for a lion or an African leopard
to kill the strongest horse.
Herds are often decimated by their raw
ages, all the poultry may be killed in the
night, skins and hides within reach are
destroyed, and jackals will ever steal boots
and make a meal on them. NJ. Kiene. 8.
farmer, writes from German Southwest
Africa that when he kills q sheep or steer
it is not necessary TO bury the ofal, for
providers the very next night will clean it
up and carry it off to the last morsel.
The success Of trapping the largest beasts
Of prey is due to improvements in the trap
and in the methods Of using it. The traps
now made for this purpose are proportional
to the strength of the strongest animal
that can get into them.
A shallow hole is dug and filled with moss
go as to bring the trap nearly TO the level
OF the ground, the moss helping to keep it
exactly level. The trap and the ground
around it are then covered with earth free
from stones. Over this leaves or grass
are strewn.
A few bits OF bait are scattered among
the leaves from a foot to a foot and a half
from the spring Of the trap. The beast
whose keen nose detects the meat ap.
proaches at night, hunts the tidbits in the
litter and while picking them up nine
chances in ten he will spring the trap.
This implement has some appurtenances
which nave only recently been used. Il
was formerly the practice TO 'fasten ths
trap on the spot. but the new way Of trapping
has a different device.
The trap Is attached to a strong stout
chain, at the end of which is a three pronged
anchor with points almost as sharp a.
needles. When caught the animal will
haul the trap with its chain and anchor
out into the brush. At every instant the
anchor is catching in the ground or scrub.
The animal cannot travel far. for every
step means a pull on his imprisoned limb.
and the scars which the anchor makes on
the ground and underbrush are a sure guids
to the crippled brute.
The farmer may be awakened by tho
first frightened howl OF his victim, but hs
will wait till morning before investigating
the matter. A few minutes will q the
animal into the bush. and his outcriee soon
cease. In the morning when convenient
the farmer will follow the trail. rife on
shoulder. knowing perfectly well that he
can safely approach the brute within two
or three rods and put an end to his misery
with a well aimed bullet.
The experienced trapper to-day does not
take the slightest pains to conceal his par
ticipation In setting the trap. He handles
the trap as he would q hoe. puffs away Ct
his pipe. does not care II the trap is rusty
and puts no oil on il, as was formerly dons
to disguise odor. In fact. he carries out
the work as simply as though he vera
catching a muskrat.
Here are some Of the latest statistics Of
trapping big beasts OF prey in tropical
regions. On one coffee plantation in dis
trict US, Sumatra, three tigers wers
caught in two days near the remains OF two
oxen they had killed. Missionary A. Mayer
in British Bechuanaland caught three lions
In a week, besides many other beasts OF
prey.
Theodor Hartmann on plantation NJ "a
German East Africa trapped 4o4 beasts OF
prey last year A. Won Quasi on another
plantation trapped in one month two lions
eight leopards and one hyena, all but ons
lion and one leopard being caught IN the
same place. In sixteen months he trapped
204 beasts OF prey, for which he received
bounty amounting TO 1900 marks.
c. H~averbeck trapped three lions ~
November OF last year. c. Forstmann re-
ports from the Dutch East Indies the trap
ping OF two royal Bengal tigers and TIRES
bears, while H. Janson in German Sou'h'
west Africa has recently trapped tour
leonarda aiphty hyenaa l60 iaCkals ana