Wednesday, October 10, 2007

R & A PERRY CIRCUS #4


R & A PERRY CIRCUS 1992, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Posted by Buckles at 10/10/2007 06:37:00 AM

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Could someone please elaborate some details , facts / info about these Lions Vests ?

10 October, 2007 07:45
Anonymous said...

It's all in the genes. It is very difficult to find lions with belly manes, especially in America.
Not all well bred lions have belly manes like these, but it's a good place to start. Very few people in America know what a properly bred African lion even looks like. When Jimmy Chipperfield brought the open(drive Thru) safari park concept to America he failed to rell anyone about proper breeding control, consequently that was the beginning of the fall of the African Lion gene pool in America.
presently there are VERY few lions on this continent that are genetically worth breeding.
Unfortunately the wild population has suffered a similar fate. Most, if not all, genetically sound males have been trophied out and inferior stock has been breeding in its stead. younger and younger males have been breeding and the social fabric has all but been destroyed and the average breeding age of males has gone from 10 to 12 years of age down to 6 to 8 years as a present average. There are a few zoos around the world who have maintained genetically sound lines of African lions. I have seen some fine specimens in England and Germany.
Unfortunately no one seems to be addressing this dire situation. And soon NO ONE will remember what a GOOD Lion looks like.
And now on top of those problems along come the White lions who because of their beauty and ability to drain resources, because they are a good attraction just like the reccessive genes of the white tiger has done to tigers resources.
How many children have you heard of that want to see a real Siberian Tiger or a REAL Bengal tiger. There are zoos that do have proper breeding programs for tigers, but very few. I hope even a few zoos will put as much effort into improving the breeding programs of the African lion.
In stead of the academic scams like the Atlas lion "re-introduction" program.
I shall step down off my soap box now. thank you

10 October, 2007 12:23
Anonymous said...

I like the lion on the far right. "Let's see... if they tilted that light down a bit, they could see how handsome I really am!"

Who is working this act? Nice looking lions.

10 October, 2007 15:15
Anonymous said...

Larry Allen Dean, Thank's for the insight, it was most informative, but then you stepped over the line, and took a shot at White Tigers, so now I can have an opinion. I have only been around about a dozen male lion's in my life, so granted it is a limited knowledge base. Some of the finest male lion's I ever saw were at Jungle Larry's African Safari,(do you agree, Pat?) I have found belly mane's tend to become matted and dirty like dreadlocks. Yes, I KNOW they can be kept clean in certain situation's, and if you are on a, dare I say it, Pat, a tent show with a dirt, or a sawdust covered ring, wet belly manes covered with sawdust after a laydown might not be an obvious distraction. But if you are on a rubber, celotex, ring mat, carpet, etc. surface with out a covering of sawdust, and you washed your lion's in the morning, depending on the weather and temperature, they may not be dry in time for the first show, and then the laydown with a damp surface afterward's might be a distraction. Add damp jump pedestals, seat's, etc. and heavy belly mane's may not be what you need. Who know's what that baby will have for a mane when he grow's up, with 100% accuracy. I saw somebody in Europe go in the wagon and brush his lion's belly mane, which was commendable. I also noted that that there were 13 lion's in the act, and they were not brushed dry. Now relax, and count to 10 before you respond, LAD
Wade Burck

P.s. I have heard Jim Clubb has written and/or published a book. Any additional information about that. Wade Burck

10 October, 2007 16:33
Casey McCoy Cainan said...

Alright Larry,
Bravo Bravo, now my question. Is the prop behind these lions, an actual prop, or, a barricade to keep them from blowing out of the lay down and sit up?

10 October, 2007 17:14
Anonymous said...

larry these lions were broken in by that great man fritz schultz
in fact it was the last lion act that fritz broke in and any one who
who seen the act said it was one of his best robert perry

10 October, 2007 20:20
GaryHill said...

Very impressive looking cats! Well taken care of and it shows!

10 October, 2007 21:59
Anonymous said...

I have found the male lion beauty regimine- once per week- of a good hose down with a bucket of Johnson's Baby Shampoo (No More Tears Formula) followed by pine shavings for the first dry, clean out the damp shavings, then a fan for the finishing drying touches and fluff keeps them looking lovely at all times during the warm season, regardless of ring condition. No, nobody ever caught a cold.

I have always had a soft spot for male lions and tent shows. I like them both.

11 October, 2007 05:58
Anonymous said...

Thanks Larry - I recall seeing Lions somewhere as such some 50 + years ago ( & posiably in OLD Tarzan Movies or a Zoo as a boy )This pose accents the " Belly Mane " SO vividly , very nice .
They sure command ones attention .

11 October, 2007 08:15
Anonymous said...

To Larry Allen Dean, after reading your comments regarding the Atlas lion, I did a little research and found the following which may be more detail than the most blog readers want:

From WIKIPEDIA

The Barbary Lion, Atlas lion or Nubian lion a subspecies of lion that has become extinct in the wild.

The Barbary lion formerly ranged in North Africa (from Morocco to Lybia) and continuing to Egypt. The last known Barbary Lion in the wild was shot in the Atlas Mountains in 1922. The Barbary lion was believed to be extinct in captivity as well. However, possible Barbary lion individuals or descendants have been located in zoos and circus populations within the last three decades.

It is often considered to be the largest of the lion subspecies with males weighing between 400-600 lbs and females 220-400 lbs, approximately the size of Bengal tigers and Siberian. However, more recent research suggests that it is only slightly larger than most modern African lions, which weigh approximately 400 lbs on average.


Barbary lions in captivity and possible surviving individuals
In the 19th century and the early 20th century Barbary Lions were often kept in zoos and circus menageries. One famous purebred Barbary lion named "Sultan" lived in the London Zoo in 1896. Another one is known from Leipzig. Currently there are several dozen individuals in captivity believed to be Barbary lions: Port Lympne Wild Animal Park twelve specimens descended from animals owned by the King of Morocco In addition, eleven animals believed to be Barbary lions were found in Addis Ababa zoo, descendants of animals owned by Emperor Haile Selassie
In the past scientists believed that the distinct sub-species status of the Barbary lion was established by its seemingly fixed external morphology, particularly its heavier mane. However, it is now known that various extrinsic factors influence the colour and size of all lions' manes, such as ambient temperature. As the cooler ambient temperature in European and North American zoos has been found to produce Barbary-like manes on ordinary lions, this characteristic is now considered an inappropriate marker for identifying Barbary ancestry. In 2005, Mitochondrial DNA research revealed that a lion specimen from Neuwied Zoo is not of sub-Saharan origin according to its mitochondrial lineage and, thus, very likely a descendant of a Barbary lion.

Despite this, Mitochondrial DNA research published in 2006 does support the distinctness of the Barbary lions as a sub-species. The results found a unique mtDNA haplotype to be present in some of those museum specimens believed to be of Barbary descent. This may be a good molecular marker for identifying -- and excluding -- other potential Barbary lions. The mtDNA results revealed that five tested samples of lions from the famous collection of the King of Morocco are not, according to this criterion, maternally Barbary

The Barbay lion project

The former popularity of the Barbary Lion as a zoo animal provides the only hope to ever see it again in the wild in North Africa. After years of research into the science of the Barbary Lion and stories of surviving examples, WildLink International, in collaboration with Oxford University, launched their ambitious International Barbary Lion Project. They are using the very latest DNA techniques to identify the DNA 'fingerprint' of the Barbary Lion subspecies. WildLink International has taken bone samples from remains of Barbary Lions in Museums across Europe, like those in Brussels, Paris, Turin and others. These samples are returned to Oxford University where the science team is extracting the DNA sequence that identifies the Barbary as a separate subspecies. Although the Barbary is officially extinct, WildLink International had identified a handful of lions in captivity around the world that are descended from the original Barbary Lion, like the royal lions in Temara Zoo in Rabat, Morocco. These descendants will be tested against the DNA fingerprint and the degree of any hybridisation (from crossbreeding) can then be determined. The best candidates will then enter a selective breeding programme that will 'breed back' the Barbary Lion. The final phase of the project will see the lions released into a National Park in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. WildLink International can not be reached anymore and their website is nowadays offline. Everyone is in the dark as to what happened to WildLink International. WildLink International and the University of Oxford had made the deal that WildLink International would raise money for the project and that the university would do the research. With the disappearance of WildLink International no money was raised. Dr. Noboyuki Yamaguchi, a scientist from the University of Oxford, has used his own funding for as long as possible to further the scientific research on Barbary Lions and its genetics. The project is now indefinitely on hold until the funds can be raised.

11 October, 2007 12:14
Anonymous said...

To say the least my background in mytochondrial???DNA is a bit skimpy.
But it certainly sounds to me like you are taking specimens that may be distantly related to Barbary lions and hoping to breed them to increase the odds of increasing the DNA markers to come up with an animal that once existed. I suggest you refer to Hollywood for for your "scientific" approach.
And this certainly reeks of unemployed "scientists" trying to dream up projects to raise funding.
Does the term "Snake oil salesmen" ring a bell for anyone else ?
Ah,the love of Academia !

13 October, 2007 13:26
Anonymous said...

Mr. Perry,
While presenting a mixed group of tigers and a lioness for the Ashton Circus,touring Austrailia, I had the honor of meeting Fritz Shultz. I had heard of him before I went to Austrailia. I was very impressed with the scope of his work in Austrailia. I got to watch a mixed lion & tiger group that was touring at the time. They were all young animals when I was there. Which was not true of mister Shultz ! When I got to meet him he was quite advanced in years but was still quite sharp of mind and body. It seems that this gentleman had one of the longest and most productive careers in the big cage of anyone I have ever had the opportunity of laying eyes on.
Is he still alive ? and is there a book available outlining his illustrious career ?

13 October, 2007 13:40
Anonymous said...

A question to J Goodall :
Are you familiar with mitchondral DNA research? and in hopes that you are, or to anyone else reading this who might be; I am very interested to know if there is a DNA answer to the question of what distinguishes between a TRUE sub-species and the differences in familial groupings that are influenced by environmental factors such as water and food sources.
I do realise that there has always been the academic dispute between the "lumpers" and the "splitters". But is there a DNA "line in the sand" ?
to explain my own personal position I do believe that Barbary lions were a true sub-species (having seen captive specimens in the early '70s) but question the veracity of claims that the Florida Panther actually stands up to claims as a true sub-species. I believe the Florida Panther to be an excelent of familial traits being exagerated by environmental influences.
Anyone ? If you would rather do this prvately my address is : larryallendean@hotmail.com

13 October, 2007 13:57
Anonymous said...

hello larry
yes capt schultz is now 97 and as bright as a button he lives with his daughter mary ann betwean Brisbane & the Gold coast
Robert Perry

13 October, 2007 19:32
Anonymous said...

larry jim fogarty has a book out on Wirth;s and a lot on capt career called the wonder of wirths
robert perry

13 October, 2007 19:35
Anonymous said...

Casey, quick get the cap-chur gun. LAD is running amuck, and tearing the place up. Wade Burck

13 October, 2007 21:29
Casey McCoy Cainan said...

Larry, being I just in the last year or so learned which end of a cat the food goes in, and which end is the motor,(That is not a shot at anyone trying to move cats from their head)I surely can't comprehend all you have said here. But MAN the way you said it was great!!!! Larry, you know your Lines...and....Lions

17 October, 2007 01:25
Anonymous said...

Bravo Larry. Obviously you did got past the fifth grade and I will have to get out the dictionary to decipher all those big words, but its nice to know the interest of you and others.

I have always felt an adult full black maned male lion to be a beast of awsome beauty and of course when people observe the acts of all the great cats the invariably refer to the trainer-presenter as "the lion tamer".

We do see nice looking colorful tigers as well and the cream-de-plume would be the magnificent Siberian tigers of Robert Baudy's act and the Althoff riding Siberian on Ringling if you could take your eyes off the beautiful presenter Evie.

Another incredible beautiful animal would be an adult silver back Gorilla. Its wondrous to me when looking in their eyes as they in turn observe us to what possibly could be going on in their mind set.

All amazing animals , plus a beautiful Asian elephant like Viola. and exquisite Saddle Bred horse like Starless Night. All wonders of the circus. We can be proud.

17 October, 2007 09:26
Anonymous said...

To Pat White. Sounds great but I doubt if Dick Clemons, Terrel or Clyde would favor the Baby Shampoo and resulting bath, unless the could load them up for a trip to the Beauty Shoppe. Kidding aside your devoted interest and well being of your charges should certainly be brought to the attention of those animal rights idiots and the public in general. Keep up the good work.

17 October, 2007 09:37

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