New-York tribune., 1908-07-05
DANGERS OF CARING
FOR WILD ANIMALS
MANY HIGHLY COLOREL
TALES EXAGGERATED.
Keepers of the Bronr geological
Garden Tell Some of Their
Experiences.

What the dangers Of handling wild animals
in the Bronx Geological Park? So many tales Of
high colcr have been printed regarding deadly con-
ficts between and snakes. tigers and bears
that the modest keepers hesitate TO say anything
the subject. Perhaps Of them don't want
their families TO be frightened and others feel
the injustice OF belling harmless reptiles and four
footed beasts. II is generally the wrong animal
whose ferocty is exploited f. the public prints.
Moreover danger is q comparative term A me-
chanic ignores the peril OF whirring machinery IN
power house. and animal keeper doesn't
think much OF what might happen II he gave too
good opportunity 10 claw fang. There are
precautions Of habit The ugly tricky beast is
watched in routine. II keeper relaxed his usual
he might be seriously hurt The ifs occur
with extreme rarity.
When Keeper Toomey, in the presence Of a Trib-
une man. opened the back door of a rattlesnake
cage and gently prodded the diamond-hacked rep
tile with shovel until the creature raised Itself
70 a striking position and the dry volley of its
rattles sounded like two dozen crickets in chorus,
there seemed 10 be a lot of danger in the neigh
horhood Nr- Rattler's eyes had the fighting fury,
his PINK tongue shot out with nervous longing and
perhaps in another second he would have iunged
forward at the human enemy. The visitor did not
feel At all comfortable for he was not war
correspondent nor volunteer Of science to try
out snake antitoxin- It appeared TO be a dan
gerous -Csltion-a foolhardy experiment Yet the
Keeper evidently had judged the amount OF peril
10 nicely, and only touched up the rattler as
far rs il safe dc. He knew when and how
Tar the snake would jump. Just before that point
was reached ne shut the door The rattling died
away in buzz like down alarm clock.
Come on-we'u touch up the COBRA said the
reptile handler
The visitor declined stand at the back this
crne- There was, perhaps moral thought that
II Was cruel TO tantalize the cobra, and besides
curator Dtmars had labelled this reptile as mostly
responsible for twenty-five thousand deaths a year
n india True, there the Pasteur anti-venom
serum available in the curators office, along with
hiiVes and other instruments TO wounds
peTIlanganate Of potash, whiskey and other anti
ootes. but the view good enough through the
glass front Of the cage. The cobra showed him
sef to be an even sensitive and high strung
spirit than the rattler when the cold iron Of the
shovel tickled his back. He rose up, expanding
his yellowish spotted hood that seemed to contain
eiarlng eyes % hatred The long feshy bonnet be-
came taut- His tongue played like a rapier he
oArteo forward repeatedly al the keeper. furi
Gus hiss, loud that Of able bodied cat sounded
With each forward lunge He came closer to the
man, doubtless expecting TO reach him somewhat
unaware. But the keeper ended the duel at the
right moment. knowing the cunning OF the cobra.
he had not opened the door until he had
through glass peephole where the snake was
lying
Not for mere amusement are the inmates OF the
Iepue house constantly handled by the keepers.
teo al intervals while OF them assistance
every six weeks IN the process OF shedding their
snns. Tie great regal python OF Borneo twenty
foar feet long and thick mans leg with yel-
aoSsh brown markings and beautifully iridescent
scaes, has eaten voluntarily during the four
ses1 Of his captivity Once n ten days occurs his
'-neon4eo feeding time. Two keepers enter his
age throw blanket over him and fall fat
s s2uirming folds. Then Of them feels for his
'so' Grabs II, and hands IL TO line OF ten men
CQrri rauff1a 1S cd oil
4O"y Ike length Of hose. and the dozen men
1--we all they do 10 hold and carry him into the
ing room. The head man has the hardest jon,
N lhe python is most powerful IN the neck He
Always wrlthing and the strain the wrists
HIe naen Is intense. He must DC held in an
ho4otely straight line. so his dinner VIII go down
eolt meeting kinks. The dinner, consisting OF
~ dressed rabbits tied the end OF twelve
80 pole, is rammed down his throat The pole
4s' De showed all the way TO reach the stomach,
~0se hls throat alone is six feet long.
"s sorns time ago that the big python man
fsasaAe hiunssf during the fesdinG opera