Animal trainers

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(05-16-2014, 06:00 AM)peter Wrote: Here's the essentials of three adult male lions I measured in a Dutch rescue centre. We couldn't weigh them, but my guesstimate, based on the captive Amur tigers I had measured, weighed and carried some time earlier, would have been between 390-430 lbs. The director told me he had had two male lions ('Athos' and 'Zeus') before. They compared to the Amurs in every way. Also circus lions.

I noticed each and every time that circus animals are fitter, more muscular and more sociable than animals born and bred in zoo's. Big cats are now banned. In my opinion, the effect will be the opposite of what is intended. I mean, every trainer I interviewed had a very strong bond with his animals. They have to. If there's one thing I learned, it is that big cats, and predators in general, are way more observative and intelligent than we assume. They 'see' right through you, meaning they are able to get to the core of you in a split second. If you're a joker, you're likely to be tested and male lions in particular have a reputation in this respect. Before you enter the cage, you must have answered the question they will ask one day. There are, no doubt, trainers who have treated their animals in a less than respectful way. Some got away with it, but many didn't.

Wild animals, I agree, should be wild. The problem is less and less will get the chance to be a real lion or tiger. We also have to remember wild big cats are confronted with problems everywhere (habitat destruction, poaching and humans all over the place). I mean, what is wild today? There are way more captive tigers than wild tigers. We know they in particular suffer from boredom and connected. Why not offer them the chance to do something and interact with other animals and humans? If the audience is done with tricks, try something different. And have a team of specialists paid by the circus and the state check the conditions anywhere. One breech is a warning, two a heavy fine and three is out. This would prevent problems. But the main argument would be trainers and animals. For motivation and education, trainers are second to none. And circus big cats, based on what I saw, are way fitter and sociable than their zoo relatives.          

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@peter that is interesting that you actually have the measurements to these lions.  I know you said that they compared to the Amur tigers, do you have the measurement data for any of the Amur's there? Reply