Page 22 - All About History - Issue 26-15

Animals & Man

How to

TAMEALION TOOLS OF THE TAMER’S TRADE Safety first

Hoop
Takeaseat
The traditional chair is not
to fend off attack, rather,
cage protects the audience
to jump on command
the four leg tips take the Instructing your cats Working inside a barred
throughahoop held
from the lions yet allows
lion’s focus, distracting it. aloftisastaple trick. them to see the act.
ROLL UP, ROLL UP, FOR SOME SECRET
CIRCUS SKILLS ANYWHERE, ANYTIME
Around the turn of the 20th their lives performing in cages
century, they were the greatest with the kings of the jungle. Times
showsonearth.Travellingcircuses change,andtodayanimalacts
broughtamenagerieofexoticwild involving big cats are considered
animalstolocationswherepeople cruel. A ban on them in circuses is
could never hope to see them. imminent in the UK, yet the tamers’
Topping the bill of the daring acts techniques can still be acquired by
ondisplaywereliontamers–men, those courageous enough to tackle
and occasionally women, risking this dangerous trade…
LIVING WITH Guiders

LIONS… Key instruments – absolutely not for
striking the animals – prompting actions
and movement. During training, meat on
JOYADAMSON one tip delivers rewards.
1910-80, KENYA
Adamson raised lion cub Elsa then Plinth
successfully returned it to the wild A ‘lion’s den’ for the animal within the
after its mother had been killed cage, allowing it to be stationed. Improves
protecting her cubs. the audience’s viewing experience too.
TIPPI HEDREN
1930-PRESENT, USA
The actress’s family lived with
lion Neil and trainer Ron Oxley
at their Los Angeles home while
researching their film Roar.

ALEXANDER THYNN
1932-PRESENT, BRITAIN
In 1966, Thynn opened the first
drive-through safari park outside
Africa in the grounds of his
ancestral home, Longleat House.
KEVIN RICHARDSON
1974-PRESENT, SOUTH AFRICA
An animal behaviourist and
conservationist, Richardson has
slept with, fed and lived with lions
in the course of making many Define yourself Catch them young
wildlife documentaries.
Select your ring persona. Are you looking to be a beast Establish an early bond with the cats you want to work
ANTON LAVEY 01master, harking back to the early, frankly brutal days of 02 with. Ideally, this means getting to know them when
1930-97, USA the profession? Or are you more of an animal behaviourist, they are cubs. Most big cats in entertainment acts are born and
This one-time circus big cat worker, looking to interact with your charges as a trainer rather than a bred in captivity. Trainers who raise cats from cubs and maintain
who later founded the Church of tamer? Hint: if it’s the former, expect opposition from animal a constant presence during their development are creating a
Satan, kept a lion, Togare, as a pet. rightsactiviststhatwillbefiercerthanyourlions. trusting relationship with their animals.

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