This picture was posted on the "history channel" on 6/20/08 with this comment. "Here are a few more photos of the un-named gentleman on the Globus Circus in Bucarest. Quite an interesting set of props. You can see from these pictures that he apparently gets on good with the lions in spite of the video of a few months ago." This is an example of somebody not knowing what they were looking at, and hanging some false paper.
When I address the "cute and charming" statement and the animals love him/her like children misconception normally don't have a clue what they are seeing. There are exceptions where the individual may get that behavior with subjugation/domination pure and simple, or thorough eventual indifference to the individual. Not all trainers, and no particular Nationality. But "cute and charming" almost 100% because of the mis perception. I noted the lack of understanding of animal behavior in our judging of animal act's yesterday and whether they were happy/comfortable or not, and "cute and charming" will hide it for the uninformed.
An infamous tape of a "lion attack" was posted last year. The picture above and statement was to address that tape. Below are two more tapes of the same act/lion. Watch the lion on the left closely who does the "cute and charming kiss 0 death." Any body who knows feline or canine behavior, will know what the tail between the legs, and the crouching behavior is, and their is a reason he is the one "rolling over" I saw these animals in 2005 at the start of their training in "Europe," and at the end of 2008, this is the best they have come up with. The tapes had to run as two, because it took so long. Oh yes, it is the act owned by the Romanian National Circus.
Part one
Part two
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Myth and Reality--You have to understand what you are seeing so the profession doesn't get lumped into one bag
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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8 comments:
Wade, aside from the beauty of the animals, I didn't see too much in this act to be impressed with. The rollovers and situps were very nice, but 15 minutes of posing on props was a bit much. What the heck was that contraption used in the hind leg walk? Some sort of walker for big cats? LOL Yours, Adam's, and Casey's walk all by themselves, thank you.
Mary Ann
Mary Ann,
That is the difference between you and I. For me beauty is in demeanor/behavior/willingness of the animal to be doing what they are doing. I didn't see any of that beauty, and I will have to go back and look because I didn't really notice the props.
Wade
His name is Stefan Plesoianu.
Agree with Mary Ann regarding the tricks.It's about one trick every three minutes and most all of the same.
Mary Ann,
And I might add, many many other hind leg walks that have been done for a long time. In looking again, it was an attempt at doing anything. Brilliantly illustrates that you can not force an animal to do any thing. It they are scared they are going to run, or they will freeze up and do nothing but move from place to place.
I think I recognized that round wheel, in the middle, but I am not sure.
Wade
Mary Ann,
We don't need to discuss what the act does, or doesn't do. It does nothing. But tell me what did you notice in the lion on our left, who does the kiss 0 death, and the bulk of the behaviors. Watch him and his actions from the moment he comes in the cage, until he gets on the pyramid the first time. That's what you need to look at and comment on what you see. Then explain beauty to me or justify.
Wade
Wade, you are correct. "Anybody who knows feline behavior will know what the tail between the legs and the crouching behavior is." That unfortunate animal is experiencing fear, and there is nothing beautiful about that.
Mary Ann
Mary Ann,
Now you have actually looked at the beauty of what some call "Animal Training." And it has almost destroyed us all. But it took a long time, and a lot of coaching. There is a thing called "haunting beauty". It has always had a double meaning for me. Now you know why the animals moved so slow and took so long to do nothing. What animal people want to tell me what the words "frozen" or "sulled up" mean, or why an animal exhibits that behavior. Go back and look at some of the feline videos we have posted see if you can note who is "kind and gentle" and who is Attilla the Hun when the spotlight goes out.
Wade
I did not like the act. The animals did not look comfortable.
And as you said Wade, there is no beauty in the act.
Stefan
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