Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-02
IN THEIR NEW HOME
Transfer of Zoo Lions to Win
ter Quarters.
KEEPERS HAVE HARD TASK
Animals Express Objections in the
Really Animal Way.
SHOW FIGHT. GROWL vICIOUSLY
Big Cats Came Here When Young
From the Wilds of East

If there is any one in Washington who
has particular fancy for African hons
and IL possessed with a desire to see
these biggest members Of the feline kind
in "all the majesty Of their strength and
anger. unconquered and strangers to
temerity, as Naturalist Goodrich once
put it, that individual missed his chance
at the Zoo yesterday afternoon when
Headkeeper Blackburn and a corps of as
sistants shifted from summer to winter
quarters the three animals brought to
Washington from East Africa last Janu-
airy. The three big jungle cats have not
been handled much during their short
period of captivity and didn't take kindly
to the task of the Zoo keepers. Incl
dentally they gave the keepers an hours
work they're not liable to forget for sew
eral months to come.
The administrator Iris and Hanni-
bal, as they've been christened by the
keepers-have mot quite reached their
full growth, 1t Is said, and have much to
learn of the behavior expected of well
hammered, cage-broken hons. Whether
they will ever acquire it remains to be
seen. Judging from their attitude of
yesterday afternoon they retain some
faint recollection of native jUngles and
rock covers and exhibit a wholesome dis
Captured in the Wilds'
1t was not so many months ago that
the trio were captured near the dead bod
les Of their mothers several hundred
miles back from the coast in East Africa
by the Messrs. Mcmillan, who have a
farm near Nairobi. About the only time
since then until yesterday that they have
been In close contact with man was when
Assistant Superintendent Baker brought
them over seas to Washington as a pres
ent TO the Zoo from their original cap
tors.
The decision to transfer them was
reached several days ago, and one of the
big cages in the older part of the lion
house was selected their abode for
the winter months Yesterday afternoon
was the time selected for the moving. and
anticipating that he was not going to
have an easy time of it, the head keeper
summoned about him about half dozen
OF his most experienced assistants. All
the preliminary preparations completed.
the transferring cage-an oblona, steel
rodded box on rollers-was showed up 10
the door of the cage and securely dashed
to il. The SratinSs were then pulled up
and the actual work of transference be-
gan. The moving was to be done from q
double cage in the newer section of the
lion house.
The animals watched the various
processes with indifference, and the per-
emptory commands of the lionkeepers
10 move We're greeted with snarIs and
groWls. They rose and ambled Off to
the far corners of their cage. watching
for the next move of the enemy" on
the far side of the bars.
Hannibal Resents Interference.
\ moment later Hannibal, who had
been doing the least growing. and was
selected for that reason as first to be
transferred. struck viciously at train
ers rod thrust across the cage floor to
make him stand on all fours Before
the man had an opportunity to change
tie position of the rod the animal sprang
ON II with roar that could be heard
on the neighbOring drive, meanwhile
biting and scratching at the prongs.
a second trainer came to the rescue
with another rod and between the two the
animal vas worked half way across the
cage floor toward the open grating OF
the transfer box. Despite the growing
and swapping and the occasional side
swpes Of the heavy paws against the
prongs. progress was manifest. Then the
lion sprang suddenly away from the irons
before the trainers realized what was up,
gave a roar and leaped to the bars in
front and struck at them with both
and again sprang toward the bars. claw
ing and biting and striking between them
! at the men beyond.
Look OUT" yelled a trainer, as he
noticed the lion turn to spring again. The