A TAMER OF WILD ANIMALS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22245, 9 November 1937, Page 12

A TAMER OF WILD ANIMALS

NEW ZEALANDER IN A CIRCUS TIGERS HELP TO SETTLE Dispute (PBBSB ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) INVERCARGILL, November 8. Travelling with Wirth Brothers’ circus, which arrived at Bluff to-day by the Maunganui, is a man who claims that he is the only New Zea-land-bom tamer of wild animals. He is Eric Flyger, who belongs to Taranaki, and who is now in charge of all the caged wild animals with the circus. He attributes the adoption of his dangerous profession to a love of thrills, and, although he has been mauled by tigers, he claims that he still derives much pleasure from his work with the animals. Flyger is a man of parts. He performs a conjuring act in the circus, as well as working the wild animals, and before he became associated with the circus he toured Australia and New Zealand with “The Maid of the Mountains” Company. He has now worked in the circus for 10 years, and has benefited so much from his training in the management of animals that he has beer, in chai'ge of this department for several year's. In Australia several months ago he had a difference of opinion with his employers on whether his contract compelled him to train lions as well as tigers. He settled the dispute in an unusual manner by entering the tigers’ cage and refusing to come out until an interpretation in keeping with his claims was granted. The experience of being mauled by his savage charges has not lessened his enthusiasm for his work. A year ago, while training tigers recently acquired by the circus, he tripped in the cage and fell, the animals immediately attacking him and causing severe injuries before he could bo rescued. He waited only for his wounds to heal before resuming his work with renewed enthusiasm.