Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 183, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1919 — Majority of Big Animals Are Extremely Lazy Even in Their Native Haunts [ARTICLE]

Majority of Big Animals Are Extremely Lazy Even in Their Native Haunts

Though not generally known, most of the big carnivora are extremely lazy," in their native haunts —only exerting themselves when in need of food, and often going without it for sheer Indolence. Animals of the zoological gardens obtaining their food without any effort on their own part grow stupid and ill for lack of exercise. The pacing up and down, just before meal time, !s not sufficient. Besides, animals are like people; they need change of scene and air. For this reason the animals in a circus or show are really more fortunate than their brothers in the zoological gardens. The trick animals get plenty of exercise during performance, and the constant change of scene keeps them Interested. Even such fierce animals as leopards, tigers and Hons enjoy going through their tricks from sheer relief of the monotony of their cages, and often the big cats are quite playful during the time of their training, not from any love of man, but from a love of motion.