Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-12

circus or zoo. The losses are heavy
enough even among healthy animals.
The problems OF transportation are
not SO bad in the case of the hunting
cats as in those of some of the bigger
creatures The task Of getting a hip
popotamuS or a rhinoccros or n giraffe
through miles Of Jungle or over leagues
fot desert can be imagined. 1t is espc-
cially difficult in the case OF animals
IKE the former, which need large GUAM
| titles OF water. and frequent baths
On account of drawbacks such as these,
me capture OF cubs instead of mature
animals ls OFTEN moro practicable.
Cubs More Dangerous StIII
The taking OF lion cubs is even more
dangerous than the capture OF full
grown lions. for n lioness with young
Is probably the most savage and trucu.
lent beast on earth. with the nossihIo
exception of she bear with family.
Inc den Is carefully marked down and
mo hunters approach cautiously to en-
'ice the Honess out. Some attempt is
occasionally made to take her alive
but IT is usually enough of task to
put her out Of the way without loss
10 the would-bc captors. Then the
cubs are cautiously netted, for they
display surprising strength anu
savagery at very early age They
are raised on the milk of goats, n flock
or the animals being trailed after the
expedition for the purpose
IlSerS and lcopards are captured by
methods similar to those employed on
lions. The commoncst way Of taking
tho rhinoceros or the hippopotamus is
TO brighten away or shoot the mother
and capture the young animal The
giraffe nowadays is often taken with
the rope. He Is an animal Of sad and
nervous temperament easily terrified,
but comparatively docile after he has
become accustomed to new surround
ings.
The elephant is probably the most
Intelligent OF the wild kindred He !s
caught not only for exhibition pur-
poses. but I'm India for work animal
The usual method of capture in that
country Is by means OF a drive
stockade with a single gate is built.
tremendously heavy and strong. Then
line OF thousands OF beaters incloses
large area of jungle and draws In
upon the stockado with n Wild waving
or torches. shouting and shooting Of
guns. The terrified elephants crash to-
ward the only dark and quiet side OF
the circle. which leads to the stockade
In their oewilderment. many OF them
rush through the gate. which IS
dropped behind them. Getting them
out is n wild and dangerous business.
After thcy have uuieted down n little.
drivers enter the Enclosure on tame
elephants. Each wild animal is hustled
between two tame ones. who seem 10
understand their duties thoroughly.
most cases Is soon domesticated.
Arc Trapping Interesting.
inc capture of the apes-the balloons.
oranEs. gorillas and chimpanzees-is
one of the most interesting branches
of the business. These creatures are
highly excitable. and especially in the
case of the chimpanZces. display al
most human emotions. The animals
who escape the trap crowd around
their unfortunate brethren chatterinc
frantic advice and confederation.
The apes who are caught bewail their
lot and imDlore assistance. with all
OF them talking at once, the commotion
is frfghtful. The bigger apes, the
balloons and Gorillas are exceedingly
dangerous TO remove from the trap,
and many collector carries the scars
OF their teeth. 1t has been found al
most Impossible to keep gorillas in
captivity. All the apes are sensitive
and temperamental. and II they are left
In loneliness Will often pine and die.
In the case Of most Of them. the
company OF other apes Is what Is
needed, but the chimpanzee seems to
thrive equally we'll on human society.
Tho intelligence of these animals ia
almost uncanny. Several of those in
the big ZOOS dress and undress them
selves, sleep in n bed under blankets.
take their food with knife and fork,
Almost without exception. they arc
devotedly attached to their keepers.
In fact. the affection that even the most
savage animals display for the men in
charge OF them speaks volumes for the
way the animals In our ZOOS are treated
and cared for.