Note again the Lockhart hook. I wish the public could understand the use of a whip for reach, and not the infliction of pain or punishment.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Alice and Prince Utah--Liberty Park Zoo--Salt Lake City, Utah
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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8 comments:
If the public is never educated of this how can they beging to understand the whip is not a tool of pain and punishment?
Logan Jacot
Logan,
How do we educate them if we stop using it, and if we do, tell them it is only to make noise like a signal, but that it actually never touches the animal?
Wade
Was always taught to view a whip as an extension of the arm, like any number of other tools. Think whips are misunderstand by and large by people who have watched them misused in movies, or who have never been around horses. Confusing a whip with tools like a cat-o-nine-tails used in flogging other humans may contribute to such misunderstanding. Wade it was interesting when you told me about working the Hawthorn elephants using your Lockhart. Maybe you could explain why you viewed it as a better tool than a standard hook and how as such it contributes to humane practices. It may be the "old tools" were the superior tools.
The problem is not the whip. The problem is some of the half-wits that use the whip.
Steve,
You are spot on with your observation. How can it be rectified when a lot of those individuals are "connected" either through family or tradition. How does it become nothing more then a "ax grinding" affair?
Ben,
As discussed on Buckles Blog greatly in the past, whips were the traditional means of controlling an animal from a distance. The bull whip was used for driving cattle, and turning a stampede. Whips are still used much more in Europe today then they are in America, and I never noted or heard adverse reaction from the audience, unless they could see the frustration/anger on the trainers face, and that is "individuals" who never have had to abide by a standard, or be certified as "qualified" Use of a whip with a single animal doesn't make much sense like we see in some of these pictures, unless you are lunging or exercising them and they are a distance from you.
Most older pictures of elephants did not have as many people with the "herd" as we see now days. With a whip, one person can control and have the attention of a large number of animals by themselves. There is a load report plus a touch if necessary, which psychologically makes the animal think you are that "big, fast, strong and quick". When there are many people with a herd, the animals tend to wait to be told it is alright by the person standing by them, instead of reacting to the trainer/leader instantaneously. If there were 5 teachers telling 10 students what to do, I suggest there would be much confusion. The reaction to the whip is very quick and "right now". Because of excruciating pain? Absolutely not. How about instantaneous discomfort? When you are bit by a fly, or mosquito the "sting" causes you to jerk, jump, flinch, or react "right now." I have been bit by many a corn snake, as I am sure you have Ben. Is the pain crippling? No. But it sure makes you react, doesn't it. LOL Same deal when a baby tiger bites you in the ankles. You are going to live, but you sure move quick. Surprise and quickness. Psychologically more powerful then strength. Study any animal group situation. It is the one who reacts quickest who dominates. That quick reaction gives the leader/trainer a psychological edge/strength, to catch the opponent/animal off guard, before they have time to either comply or refuse.
In regards to the Hawthorn elephants, when I used to take 10 for a walk, someone, from a Government agenccy who had seen them for many years said, "I have never seen them walked without at least 4 or 5 people with them. The whip allows you to walk up and down the line, all attention focused on you and you alone. It is not something instead of the hook, it is part of the hook, and is more beneficial and humane for controlling than hitting with, or pulling/holding with the hook. Like schooling a horse, you may use the bit, the legs, the spurs, or the crop. Singly or in unison. But because of the thoughts that people have about whips, which is exactly as Ben stated, "used for punishment, or torture" they are not used much any more. Replaced instead by the "hot shot" which is "inhumane" for anything other then the feed lot, or moving a group of "untrained cattle or bulls", or in isolated cases of self defense, because it could be hidden, and nobody could misinterpret. A scalpel/whip in the hands of a skilled, trained surgeon is a tool with a distinct purpose and use. In the hands of a psychotic sociopath it is a terrible tool of pain and destruction. Again Steve, what are the standards, and who in this "buddy fraternity" is deemed worthy of practicing them?
Wade
Wade
This is the famed Alice of the Sells-Floto show. She is estimated to have been born in the wild around 1884. She was transported to America as a good sized adult. In 1904 Thompson & Dundee at Luna Park in New York sold her to the Otto Floto Circus located in Denver, Co. In 1905 the show was titled the Otto Floto Dog and Pony Show.
From 1906 to 1917 she was on the same show but now it was called the Sells-Floto Circus. She was successfully bred to a male named Snyder 4 times while on Sells-Floto.
She gave birth to HUTCH, a little male, on April 25, 1912. Hutch died June 6, 1912 in the train car during a fire.
She gave birth to TAMBON, a little male, on March 28, 1914. Tambon died April 24, 1914 after Alice would not nurse her infant.
She gave birth to Little Miracle, a little female, on April 15,1916. Little Miracle died September 9, 1916.
On April 29, 1918 she gave birth to Prince Utah, a little male. She was then transferred to the Salt Lake City Zoo. Prince Utah died on March 14, 1919.
Alice remained at the Salt Lake City Zoo until her death on March 30, 1953.
Incidentally, Snyder was also bred to Mama Mary while on the Sells-Floto Circus. She delivered a stillborn on June 17, 1917.
Snyder died in Salinas, Kansas on September 13, 1920.
Bob
The baby in this picture is Prince Utah. Within the next week I'll be blogging Alice's biography on keepapitchinin.org as part of an ongoing Utah history series.
Ardis,
Thank you for that information. We will look forward to it. Salt Lake City Zoo currently has a great professional as their Director, Mr. Craig Dinsmore. There have been vast improvements made at Hogle Park since Craig's arrival.
Wade Burck
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