LIONS AS HOUSE PETS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 425, 17 November 1930, Page 2

LIONS AS HOUSE PETS

MINE MANAGER’S HOBBY

THIRTEEN REARED IN A YEAR Tn Johannesburg there resides a man who prefers lions to dogs as domestic pots. He is Air E. F. A’. Wells, manager of the AVitbank Colliery, and during the last 12 months he has roared no fewer than 13 lions, some of which have become known throughout South Africa. Rearing lions and other wild animals as pots is Mr Wells’ hobby. AVhat happens is this. Air AVells acquires a cub. or a pair of cubs, at as early an age as they can safely be taken away from their parents. He rears them to maturity and then presents them to a zoo or other public institution.

Only two cubs kept by Air AVells died young, and that was because they did not get enough cod liver oil. It seems curious, but Mr Wells has found that to keep lions healthy in captivity one must give them cod liver oil with their meat, otherwise they sutler from weakness of the back and himl(|u:nters and get ricketty. Apparent ly- every lion mother keeps cod liver oil or some natural substitute in her medicine chest.

Air AVells now has two lions and a lynx in his household. The lions are Sheba and I’haroah ami are following in the footsteps of their famous prede-

•cssors. At present they are very ’oung ami very like overgrown kittens.

Airs Wells is on just as good terms with the animals as her husband. As a matter of fact the lynx has taken a special fancy to her. He was tame when he arrived a few months ago. T’he • rate was opened ami out stepped Kiwi, the lynx, with stately feline grace. AVith solemn curiosity he explored the house, and then jumped lightly on to Iho sideboard, put. his head on one side, ami watched the family at dinner. Apparently Airs AVells was the one who took his fancy, for that night ho follows! her to her roam ami went to sleep on the foot of her bed’ He would have made a regular practice of this, but he is rather too bulky to be allowed all the privileges of :i cat, so he was banished to a cage outside.

The affection that can spring up bet ween-animals of different species was first demonstrated b.v Air AVells’ two pets, a lion and a dog, named fSamson and Delilah respectively, who were presented to the Johannesburg Zoo, and lor years attracted attention from all parts of the world. Another instance

was that of two lion pets, A.lax’ ami CTimax, who were on terms of the greatest friendship with one of Mr AVells’ dogs. AVhen puppies arrived and took the dog’s attention - away from them there was such an uproar at night that the dog had to be nuido to sleep close against the cage to keep them quiet. The beautiful home of Air and Airs AVells is a most interesting place for at,inml lovers. Tb.erc have been kept at one time or another a dozen lions a cheetah, a l.vnx, blue cranes ami countless dogs and horses. There is a fine ccllection of heads on the walls ami many interesting animal photographs.