MAN WHO FONDLES LIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2381, 19 January 1922, Page 4

MAN WHO FONDLES LIONS.

BEASTS’ DEEP AFFECTION. COAXING AND KINDNESS USED. Twenty-one years among lions and tigers is an experience which falls to the lot. of few. Mr W. Hopgood, head keeper of the lion section at the London Zoo, can claim this distinction. M’ore than once, when I have been in this privileged quarter, I have come across a young lion cub roaming round, in'"comparative liberty, searching for its guardian, writes a. Daily Chronicle representative. That Mr Hopgoods’ charges know him I had ample testimony when I was introduced to a few of his favourites.

With Abdullah, a fine young lion already growing a main, I was brought face to face rather unexpectedly.

“Abdullah,” called Mr Ilopgood, drawing aside an iron door at the rear of his cake, and the lion instantly appeared at the entrance. No*bars intervened, and the animal looked at me as though he resented my appearing in his presence without a peak cap and silver buttons. The great beast at once began to fondle Mr Ilopgood, kissing him.affectionately on the face, and placing a huge paw around his neck. Receiving a piece of meat for his good conduct, Abdullah disappeared. RAJAH’S PLAYFULNESS.

With Rajah, one of the largest and finest tigers ever seen at the Zoo, Mr Hopgood. took even greater liberties, the animal gnawing at his wrist and playing with his hand without inflicting even a scratch, though it could have bitten it through with ease.

Polly, a black leopard, gave a similar exhibition of affection, but she is the first of her kind whom Mr Hopgood could trust. “The most treacherous animals I have had to deal with are the jaguar and the black panther,” said the keeper. “How do 1 tame them? Simply by coaxing; giving them plenty of food and attention. Always take notice of an an.imaj, and never let it get ‘stale.’ Whenever possible, I take the smaller ones out of their cage so as to become more familiar with them.”

Another point commented on by Mr Hopgood supports, in a measure, travellers’ tales as to a lion refusing to attack if stared in the face. “If you look into a lion’s eyes you will find that he turns his head and looks' elsewhere, but what else it would do in a wild stale I cannot say.”

Mr Hopgood can recall the time when for such operations as cutting a lion or tiger had to be'lassooed and tied to the bars for the purpose. Nowadays they are enticed into the chloroform chamber, and the trouble is attended to without danger or pain.