New-York tribune., 1910-01-09
JUNGLE TO ARENA
HOW KING OF BEASTS
is TRAINED.
1t Takes SeUeral Years to 4s-
semble T1centy-seUen Lions.
-WOrk Hazardous.

II is impossible to estimate how many
carnivorous animals have been taken from
the Jungle In the last twenty years iater
TO be exhibited in arenas, circuses or zoo
logical parks. 1t is known. however thal
a very small percentage of the jungle bred
beasts survives the process of elimination
which leads to the arenic exhibition
To bring together a group of twenty
seven lions. one noted animal trainer elm
mated ffty-two raw recruits before ne
had selected the first seven lions for the
squad 1t was not until five years later
that the trainer could complete his group
of twenty-seven. After all, 1t had To be
disbanded three years ago, when two OF
the animals went bad and started bat
tie which left the trainer with injuries
which can never be wholly repaired.
An animal which passes through the long
gantlet Of training is often more valuable
than racehorse. Adding the cost of cap
ture. transportation and training to the
purchase price, the value of the beast can
only be estimated by its earning capacity
In the animal shows.
Menageries and geological gardens may
ACCEPT any healthy animal FOR exhibition
only, but the animal which is expected TO
perform must he not only of sound body
telligence. which has as many degrees in
animals as in human beings.
Beginning with the most formidable of
the jungle bred beasts. the lion. the ami
mails generally adapted after him for arena
performances are monkeys, tigers. bears.
Ieopards, wolves, panthers. pumas, jaguars
and hyenas. The last named are the least
popular in the arenic exhibitions because
of their ugly appearance while the lion
is the most popular because of the superb
showing which can be made in the arena
with the big black named ones.
4 natural fighter for leadership, the lion
Is formidable enemy to the trainer, but
such animal will live from thirty TO
thirty-five years in captivity, although
generally after twenty years the lion sue
cumbs to senile degeneration.
After a three months journey from
African frontier station to an American
port. the lion is entirely unnerved on its
arrival. 1t has endured changing tempera-
lures. the rgors of travel in narrow cages
and under stuffy decks, and probably the
treatment of heartless guards, who are
little more savage than the natives with
which the animal first came in contact.
The animal having been delivered to one
of the animal schools" the actual work
of preparing it for the show IS begun by
placing It in cage. Maddened by the
treatment which has been given 1t since
it's capture, the beast shows it's ferocious
disposition by tearing and biting at every
object in the cage. a big wooden ball has
been purposely left in the cage. and this
IS usually the first 10 be attacked.
Tactful. kind and persistent, the trainer
begins the work of schooling the animal.
which consumes from seven to ten months
before it can be introduced TO the arena
in company with other animals.
Food ana water are the A and b of lion
training. 1t is these which impress the
beast more than anything else. The young
recruit is fed from five to six pounds of
raw meat once a day, and receives water
in pans three times a day.