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WILD BEARS.

Herr. Hagenbeck, director of the famous Hamburg menagerie, was, during the month of September, exhibiting his troupe of wild animals in l Berlin. On September 13th ,he was " savagely mauled and bitteijliiy a huge ' Polar bear during the preliminaries P to_ one of the ''turns.,", and received s . injuries oi a serious nature. He is, } however, progressing favourably. 1] Herr Hackenbeck has his troupe of a bears under splendid control, and ." anything in the shape of a rebellion ' * towards the trainer-in-chief was the r last thing . expectecl. Tho unexpect- ! ed happened, however, during the * opening stages of an amusing water- ' slide number, in which a large com- r pany of performing bears perform a -£ sliding feat from a considerable c hejght do.w na sliding platform into the water. Benno, a huge six-year-old member of the troupe, despite the '■ application of the whip, stubbornly refused to mount the stage at the top of the slide, and instead sprang at Herr Hagenbeck, mauling him and biting him viciously, and inflicting severe wounds in the abdomen. The attendants instantly - sprang to the trainer's aid, and succeeded in preventing a second attack. Herr Hagenbeck was- immediately conveyed ' to the hospital, .where his wounds were stitched. The culprit Polar has belonged to Herr Hagenbeck's menagerie since he. was one year old, and was one of the star performers. He was known to be malicious, and had twice bitten his keepers severely. As -on each occasion, however, he had subsequently showed signs of repent- . ance, he was allowed to resume his performances, and. his refractory outbursts were forgiven. As -a punishment 1 for his latest attack, besides a sound .flogging, .he has been put on ■half rations for some " time. Herr Hagenbeck intends, to resume", his training exhibitions immediately on •leaving "the hospital, when he announces that Benno will receive a special' share of his attention.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC19081113.2.39

Bibliographic details

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12398, 13 November 1908, Page 4

Word Count
312

WILD BEARS. Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12398, 13 November 1908, Page 4

WILD BEARS. Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12398, 13 November 1908, Page 4