The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-01-26
take BIG RISKS
Trapping of Wild Beasts Most
Dangerous Business.
Those Who Engage in 1t Literally
Gamble With Death, and Their
Reward Is Never Sure.

How are the wild animals obtained
which make up the menagerie OF a
large circus? No business is quite SO
risky as that of trapping them.
Most Of the wild animals come from
Africa. These beasts must be trapped
along the Zambesl. which means 1000
miles of toilsome journey before even
a start is made. The man i'm charge
of an expedition must be experienced
and resourceful must know the coun-
try, the languages and dialects, and be
something of physician as well.
Fearful risks are taken, especially
with fever. Native carriers by the
score are employed Each porter is
required to carry GO pounds and the
charge merely on such a load from the
coast up to the great lakes is from
rwo TO three shilings pound. Pro
visions in large quantities must be-
carried, also a large amount of beads,
doth and rrinketS with which 10 ca
iole the natives FOR fresh supplies ana .
information.
Lions are taken Ia n great net. some
Is iect square and trimmed 10y very
powerful rubber elastic band. II is
set over a pit near water hole, and
when caught the lion is transported in
a bamboo case.
The tyrO who captured or trapped
"rhino" in pit in the heart of At
RIGA would he equally puzzled as TO
how to get him TO the coast. An in
clined plane must be dug and the
creature, half-tamed by fright ana
hunger, must be securely shackled
with chains and ropes and led through
tangled forests and over sands and
stony plains for hundreds of miles at
great risk TO the lives of all con-
cerned
The hunted rhinoceros Is the very
epitome of fight and gameness, but af-
ter capture gives up quickly and dies
If not properly cared for and fed. The
two most difficult creatures to trap
and bring TO the coast are the giraffe
and zebra. The latter can only be
caught I'm high and barren hills and
with the utmost difficulty. Once
caught the zebra becomes n tough
proposition, doing most of his think
ing with his heels.
The giraffe is ultra shy and his
transport after capture a serious mat
ter. He stands so high and his legs
are so like a pipe stem his safe con-
veyance Is something of feat. This
animal Is considerable of a baby as
regards tenderness, and has a heart
breaking way of shutting off his NOR
tai coil after circus has made dar-
ing investment in one or more of
them. The rarity of CRATES In cir
cuses and municipal ZOOS is due not
alone 10 the original high cost, but
also 10 the fact that the animal deal
crs abroad will not guarantee safe de-
livery in this country.
The Indian tapir perhaps attracts
hut little attention at the circus and
yet is most expensive animal. The
gorilla is practically priceless There
have been but four ever brought 10
this country.
Chimpanzees are relatively plenti-
full at circuses and ZOOS, but they are
prone 10 tubercular trouble and are
hard to keep.
Lions for geological purposes cost
from $500 10 $500. Tigers, Jungle
bred, will bring even higher figures.
Elephants. or bulls" as the circus
folk term them. cannot be bought
much under $500 in the rough. and
as they are trained to do stunts"
their value TO the owner rapidly in
creases. Their disposition, too. en-
hances their value or otherwise. Ash
attic elephants are more expensive
than the African type, being better
natured and more intelligent, as a
RUE. Hyenas are inexpensive. Cam
els OF the Siberian breed cost from
9oVo 10 $oOO The Polar bear Is ex-
pensive and hard to keep, as is the
kadiack bear of Alaska baltimore
Anotf,n,.