The Babyhood of Wild Beasts/Chapter 11
CHAPTER XI
baby tigers
THERE are no handsomer babies in the animal kingdom than the tiger babies. Their golden coats are beautifully marked with black stripes, with snow-white breast and chin, their ears are much too large for the youngsters' heads, their dear blue eyes are cloudy and uncertain, and their paws are so big and clumsy they can hardly manage them. They are such darlings one feels like taking them in one's arms and coddling them; for they are the dearest kitties in the whole wide world.
From two to four cubs are usually born in a litter, their home being a hollow log, dense thicket or a deep depression under rocks.
The Tigress is a loving and patient mother, eager to protect her little ones, and teaching them the etiquette of Tiger society with patience and gentleness. The school days of the baby tigers begin shortly after birth. The first lesson consists in learning how to wash the face and hands correctly, for Tigers are very neat and will not tolerate a speck of dirt. So Mother Tiger teaches her babies to moisten their fore-paws with their own rough tongues and wash their faces with a circular motion.
Then comes the more advanced lessons. Learning "to rustle" for one's dinner, to lie in ambush and pounce on an unsuspecting jungle fowl, pea fowl or small animal. Little Tigers must learn to follow the water courses, to track the game as it migrates, also to lay in wait at the water holes for their prey, and of equal importance, to learn the ways, laws and customs of jungle life. There is etiquette law and honour in wild animal domains that must be observed. So Mother Tiger is a very busy lady teaching her babies these very important lessons.
A vital point in a Tiger's education is to know how to capture a fat, juicy porcupine, and at the same time avoid the tragedy of getting wounded by the terrible quills of that formidable little beastie. When attacked, the porcupine rushes backwards and drives his quills full force into the face and mouth of his assailant. In order to secure him without being wounded, the Tiger must leap to the side, avoiding the rush, and dispatch Mr. Prickly Porcupine with a sharp blow on the snout. The safety of baby Tigers lays in concealment. While their parents are hunting, the babies lay as still as mice in the tall grass or in the lair. The smell of the Tigers warns other animals of their nearness, and they are given a wide berth, for the presence of the parents are suspected, though they may be miles away on a hunting trip, and no beast cares to encounter the Tiger, for he is the king of the Asiatic animals and has the right of way in the jungle.
The first principle in a Tiger's education is patience. This is difficult for young animals to exercise, as well as for humans; and Mrs. Tiger often administers a sound box on the ears of her children for lack of concentration and for carelessness.
Carl Hagenbeck, the wizard of wild animal trainers, writes of a beautiful tiger, which he had in his possession for over a year. He made a household pet of the animal, and often took him in his sitting-room without him ever causing any mischief. Mr. Hagenbeck visited his favourite every morning and caressed him. If he happened to pass his cage without noticing him, the tiger would attract his attention with a mewing sound to remind his friend that he had not spoken to him.
Regarding the supposed savageness of tigers and other carnivorous (flesh-eating animals) I can do no better than to quote Carl Hagenbeck in "Beasts and Men," page 104.
Writes Hagenbeck: "I fear that much of what I write will be received by many with incredulity; for in the popular estimation carnivores conjure up a vision of all that is faithless, savage and cruel. It is their nature in the wild state to hunt living prey and they have to kill in order to live. We are too prone to forget how many millions of animals are hunted and slaughtered both by land and sea to provide food for human beings; and it is as reasonable to accuse mankind of cruelty on this score, as it is to accuse the carnivores.
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| By special permission of the British Zoological Society |
| This tiger cub sees a friend approaching with a plate of soup. His heart beats hard and his mouth waters for fear the friend will decide to eat the soup himself. |
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| By special permission of the British Zoological Society |
| Young Master Tiger wants to scrape an acquaintance with the black bear cub. The tiger’s intentions are good but the bear doesn’t know it. His eyes are starting from their sockets with fright when the tiger sniffs his nose and says, "Hello, Kid." |
"All carnivores, without exception, when they are caught young and are properly treated are capable of being brought up as domestic pets."
The Tiger can be tamed and made a pet. The Hindu priests often have tamed tigers and lead them about in chains. A well known moving picture firm has a Tiger that poses for pictures. When not working he roams at will about the studios and is petted by the actors. He purrs like a cat when pleased and shows his delight by licking their hands with his big, rough tongue. I know a pretty Tigress whose name is Alice. She was never handled by man until three years old, and appeared to be quite savage. At first she resented being petted; but now she is gentle and shows affection for those who love her. Alice has a cunning little baby whom she loves to distraction. She is so afraid something may harm him, that whenever he approaches the front of the cage she takes him by the nape of the neck and carries him to the rear, sitting between him and the spectators, always on the watch to protect her little one.
The Tiger is an Asiatic animal. They are common in India, central Asia, and some of the great Asiatic islands. They are from six to eight feet in length, and sometimes even ten or twelve feet. The Tiger has no mane, but has big tufts of hair on each side of his jaw. The head is short and round, and very cat-like in aspect. He is a royal beast and feared by all other animals and man.