LION FARMING.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 9, Issue 78, 30 September 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

LION FARMING.

The greater part of the lions exhibited to the j public have been born and reared in travelling * menageries or caravans Nowadays the breeding, training, and rearing of w.ild beasts constitutes a regular business, and is carried on systematically. As soon as a lioness has a litter of onhs they are taken away from her and given to a collie, Newfoundland, or other canine fostermotber. As a rule a woman looks after both nurse and cubs, the task usually falling to the lot of the mistress of the caravan. The little family is usually accommodated in a corner of the caravan, or in the trainer’s private apartment. In their infancy the young lions are treated just like kitteas. When they are able to walk they have the run of the place, play about, and seem to look for and enjoy the tit-bits and caresses that are bestowed upon ■ them. They recognise for a long time the authority, so to speak, of the foster-mother, amV are obedient to her wishes, even after (hey have considerably outgrown her in size. When the menagerie is unable to secure the strviccs of a foster-mother, the young lions are brought up by the bottle. In ono caravan we came across a lady who was engaged in the task of feeding three young lions by means oT an ordinary feeding bottle. They were about the size of cats, and the good woman was bolding them in her lap. . By her side a little girl was having some soup at a corner of the table, and from time to time passed a spoonful to a young lion that was sitting on a chair beside her, and doing his best to attract her attention by cocking his ears, and every now and then putting out a paw to remind the little damsel of his presence by » gentle pat, while at the same time he gave utterance to a plaintive whine, just as a puppy would bare done under similar circumstances. The lions grow rapidly, and when five or six* months old they have to be looked up in cages. There is a considerable demand for lions! Independent of, circuses, menageries, and zoological there are wealthy noblemen ‘ and others who like to possess a lion. Artists, too, are not infrequent customers oii the lionbreeders. The trade is a lucrative one. A young lion, over the distemper, will generally realise from £4O to £SO. A half-grown male, or an adult female, will cost from £6O to £BO. But a fullgrown male with a handsome mane fetches readily from £l2O to £l6O.