WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 



I have known more keepers and other persons killed or 

 seriously injured by tame pet bears than by any other 

 animal. 



The occasions on which bears have managed to escape, 

 for a short time, have not been numerous ; two or three 

 only may be worthy of mention. On one occasion a Polar 

 bear gave a great deal of trouble, but he was eventually 

 driven into a place of safety and captured without any 

 damage being done. This bear's escapade is narrated in 

 the " Escape of Polar Bear." On another occasion an 

 American black bear was clever enough to climb up a 

 chain and escape from the bear-pit. 



I happened to see him from a distance, and, arming 

 myself with a dusty stumpy old birch -broom, I went 

 towards him. On coming up with him I dealt him a 

 smack in the face with the broom which rather aston- 

 ished him, and, with the dust in his eyes, he scampered 

 away evidently in a very ill-humour, descending the steps 

 of the terrace on to the lawn. He ran and tumbled about 

 the chairs, giving me time to call for assistance. It was 

 not long before three or four keepers put in an appearance 

 armed with dung-forks and other weapons. Mr. Bruin 

 then thought it desirable to try and return to the pit. 

 To do this he ascended the steps, and, mounting the top of 

 the terrace wall, walked along until he arrived at the pit 

 from which he had escaped. I followed him at a respectful 

 distance, and seeing that he was looking down into the 

 pit, and fearing that he might have some difficulty in 

 getting into it, or that he might change his mind and 

 take another walk, I made a rush at him with the 

 stumpy broom and sent him headlong below. I was afraid 

 he was hurt, as he moved about very little for some days 

 afterwards. 



154 



