Courtesy of Josip Marcan
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http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/24911125/detail.html?source=vegas
Courtesy of Josip Marcan
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http://www.nypost.com/video?vxSiteId=fe3e21a8-49f1-4cec-9ba5-cfe372fa6572&vxChannel=PostUsFeed&vxClipId=1458_1043700&vxBitrate=700
Courtesy of Mike Naughton
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The second guy in the video sure was making a feeble attempt at "rescuing" the second guy. He made every effort not to get close to the lion, until he had no choice. Note the lion "look" at the guy standing by the wall, in the you tube clip, a second before he lunged at him. Funny, because that "look" is something I emailed my son about just the other day. The guy was getting "sized up". For "experts" to say the lion did not "attack" the guy is ludicrous. Because he has been born in captivity and most likely hand raised, the "thought" or "desire" to attack is buried, but it is close to the surface. That was the "look." It looked like a feeble attack given his captive life and upbringing, much like Mohammad Ali when he first started boxing. Mohammad may have missed the bag a few times with his punches, but that didn't mean he wasn't trying to tear it off the hook. He just lacked the "skills" early in his fight career. The lion doesn't know why he did it, just that he "wants/needs" to. There is a "weaker" animal leaning nonchalantly, with his guard down. Now it the time to "dominate/take him out" That is genetic hard wiring. Plan and simple. That is what the "look" was all about. Note how he "pursues" the guy after he leaves. That lion was putting "two and two" together. If the attack had continued longer, the lion would have had "what" he was supposed to do, all figured out. The next one, is not going to be such a clumsy attempt, rest assured. The female "playing" with the lion is very common in immature animals. She isn't aware of what happened, just that "two" animals are rolling around, in her mind, playing.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
MGM lion attack
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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15 comments:
I agree with the article with the exception of the part about the female thinking they're playing around. I think the female knew the lion was trying to attack and was trying to keep the lion away. Notice toward the end how the female kind of pushes the lion up the rocks and away from the trainers. Our female lab used to do the same thing to our male lab when he was trying to attack a weaker animal.
Anonymous,
She wasn't pushing him away from the people(note I use people, and not trainers), she was just continuing to play, not realizing what was going on. The area of the rocks offered more room for romping, plus it too them away from where the people were going out the door. All due respect, there is not much that a lion and a lad do that are similar, also please understand animals do not "save" people or other animals. That would speak to a reasoning emotion of compassion, and it is something that I have never witnessed in a lifetime of working with animals. I made my analogy comparing the situation to a boxer/fighter, for understanding. I was in no means, shape, or form insinuating that they think like humans. We(trainers), on the other hand, think like them.
Wade
Wade
" please understand animals do not "save" people or other animals. "...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5OEKA47xFI
I am certainly no animal psychologist, but I find this video fascinating! Especially the lion's body language. He is, for whatever reason, interested in THAT guy right from the get go. Lion must sense fear, trepidation or threat. Otherwise, why was he not interested in the second guy? ...Also interesting is the females engagement, and the male lion's interest in tracking his target. I agree it was a bit of a half-hearted effort (ie he could have moved much faster and with greater force if he really wanted to). I am so pleased that no-one was seriously harmed, and will no doubt watch this video many more times.
Wade, you are spot on IMO! That big cat was giving him the "LOOK"! I saw the same thing happen to a guy back in Mesquite in 72....the guy was ME! I got away by climbing a fence with steel toe rubber boots on! I saw these goofs in with them cats last year at the NFR and I told my wife...one day!
PK,
Oh come on, you are goofing on me right???? Was he saving a mate, or dragging a carcass of a freeway in order to eat it in safety. Possibly he was chasing it in the first place, and it ran blindly into the road and got killed? It's funny. It has been written for 100's of year's how people were attacked by animals. but in the last 10-18 years, it seems all they are doing in playing, or they didn't intend to. It seems like all we have learned in the 100's of years of study is to make them something they aren't. Human, just like us. No they are much better then us. They have no ulterior motive. They only act instinctively, with no regrets and no spite. Animals are far nobler then any man or women.
Wade
always thought that lions were herbivores.... probably missed an episode!!!! lol
I have heard it's a dog eat dog world...
They guy bthat replaced Jason on Cole has never presented, trained any cats in his life as a cage hand and is right now being sized up by the tigers and Lance has to be right outside the cage as it gets pretty hairy. The act goes on and on trying to get them to perform. Its an accident waiting to happen. There was only one sheet of paper declaring his ability as a trainer-presenter. and references were by some three people including scapalanda [think I got the name right] and a well known cat lady from here. Jason had two years of intensive work in all aspects and Lance was an excellent teacher and trainer. It is a sad state of affairs when a Gov. agency with people that have no idea what is involved can decide from a piece of opaper to remove a man from his job and replace him with a cage hand who was even doing that part time in the summer. It is shamewful for all of those involved. We have letters to both USDA and APHIS in request for reASONING and have as yet received no answer. However I will not give up and can assure you my quest is far from over.john herriott. That man that wrote on the blog of the guys credentials should be ashamed of nhimself. Cole Bros. has PR regarding a tiger act and am sure are keeping their fingers crossed until the season is over. WHITE TOPS just had a great review written by very knowledgeable Gary Payne that lauded Jason to include references of him to some of the great masters. sincerely john herriott. Your comments about these attacks hit the nail on the head. Not only cat animals but other species as well including dogs. Thanks for telling it the way it is Wade. I well understand your concern for your son and pleased that Jason had a professional tutor.
Anonymous,
Yes, all animals can sense, "fear, trepidation or threat," but in this case the lion sensed "lackadaisical, bored, not paying attention", all human traits. Possibly the guy was thinking about something important like what kind of sandwich he was going to eat later that day, and couldn't be concerned about something as insignificant as standing in a habitat with two lions. After all, don't you know(and you should as it is in all the recent reports), animals only attack a person when they have been abused. Not because they are animals, who are bigger then humans, and they can.
The guy standing between the animals, whom soiled himself when the lion grabbed Mr. Daydream,(note him turn into Sir Edmund Hillary and head for the peak of Mt. Gunnite, as the freed guy headed for the valley and the door) is obviously in charge and has been around the animals longer. The unfortunate chap, according to reports was new. The lion also "sensed" that, I promise you, and that is why he chose to throw down, but with a felines typical nobility, it wasn't an ambush. He told them in advance what was coming. They just didn't "hear" him. Maybe because they are humans they didn't know that animals "speak" without a sound.
Wade
PK,
Now you are getting it. To a trainer "a lion is a lion". To a lion "a trainer is a lion". They have no spoken vocabulary like a human, they speak in silence and movement. They deal with a human like they would deal with any other lion. A dog bites a dog, like he bites a human, who is just a dog to him. He can't say, "knock it off" or "stop that before I get angry." So he "communicates" his displeasure, distrust, protectiveness etc. etc. by biting you in the leg, like he would bit any other member of his species. They can't think like us, we have to think like them. If we give animals human emotions they will disappoint us, because we are flawed. If we accept them for what they are, they are the most perfect thing in the universe.
Wade
When I saw those guys hanging around inside the exhibit at MGM I wondered what the heck they were doing in there - none even carried a stick or anything in the event of an attack. Apart from dangerous, it loked stupid as hell.
Dear Wade, Thanks sharing for your insight, experience, and common sense. I very much enjoyed seeing you on Ringling over the years and have been reading your blog for some time with great interest. Over the years I had the privilege of working-albeit briefly--with some legendary trainers--John Herriott, Axel Gauiter, Ursula Bottcher and others at Circus World and always had great admiration and awe for how they treated their animals. As for this situation, when a trainer gets the "look" what should he do? I guess get away would be logical, but then how could he later restore discipline? Thanks, Rick Faber, Circus fan, RBBB Circus World 1978-79
Rick,
Greetings and thank you for the kind words about the blog. As for your question: "when a trainer gets the "look" what should he do? I guess get away would be logical, but then how could he later restore discipline?", if you will permit me to maybe help you understand, and to "see the look" I will refer you to the you tube video on a new thread. The other ones, leave out the important part, in an effort to get to the sensational. God Bless Show Business!!!!! LOL
Wade
John,
In regards to your statement, "That man that wrote on the blog of the guys(Nick's) credentials should be ashamed of nhimself" is the same guy who wrote this,
I have to agree with you Wade, that the Col. is definitely one of the greatest American liberty horse trainers from what I have seen. From his commentary on his acts he has a tremendous wealth of knowledge to share, and I am very grateful that he does so willingly. It means so much to me, a liberty trainer wannabe.....
I don't think he has anything to be ashamed of, due respect Col.
Wade
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