Zoos, Circuses, Safaris: A Gallery of Captivity

[Spalea]

Kevin Richardson: 

" I’m often asked why the lions jump on me. It’s a fair question. What are they trying to do? Some lions jump more than others. Females seem to enjoy doing it more than males. They certainly seem to grow out of it by the age of 10+ however some lions like Livy never seem to slow down. So what are they trying to do? Well, for some, like Gabby, it’s a game of ‘hide and pounce’, whereas for lions like Livy it’s a game of ‘jump up and lick’. Mostly it’s about fun and games but it can also be about trying to bring you to their level. It doesn’t just happen out of the blue and if it does, it’s an unusual behaviour which should not be overlooked. Relationships take time to develop, both in animals and in humans and that’s the key ? If you know the personality and the personality type, it allows you to understand the intention behind the action. And yes, lions have very definite personalities ranging from quiet and serious all the way through to fun and outgoing. When next in nature take a moment to observe the animal you’re looking at and see if you can figure out its personality type. I bet you relate well to animals who are more like you. (As many of my followers know, the animals I interact with have been in my care for many years, some spanning over 20. Interacting with wild animals should never be done on a whim, from a bee to a snake all the way through to an elephant. If you think this is for you, then do yourself a favour and think about everything it takes to look after wild animals properly, besides the romantic side of interacting. Think about the reality of life long commitment, quality of life, feeding, keeping, where the money is coming from, etc, etc. Theoretically this analysis should be done before taking on any animal including cats, dogs, birds, horses etc. ) "

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