Atlas the Barbary lion versus the Bengal tiger of Simla

Last updated
Atlas the Barbary lion versus the Bengal tiger of Simla
Baroda State 1896.jpg
DateLate 19th century
Venue State of Baroda, present-day India
Tale of the tape
Boxer Barbary lion called 'Atlas' Bengal tiger
Hometown Atlas Mountains of North Africa Shimla, North India
Height ? Over 4.0 ft (1.2 m) at the shoulder
Result
Victory for the tiger

According to the Gettysburg Compiler, [1] The Baltimore Sun , [2] The Horsham Times [3] and Shepherdstown Register, [4] in India towards the end of the 19th century, the Gaekwad of Baroda, that is Sayajirao III, [5] [6] arranged a fight between a Barbary lion called "Atlas", from the Atlas Mountains between Algeria and Morocco, and a man-eating Bengal tiger from the Indian region of Shimla, before an audience of thousands. It was to determine whether the lion or the tiger should be called the "King of the Cat Family", or if the lion deserved the title of "King of the Beasts".

Contents

A letter from Captain Travers who was a friend of the Gaekwad and observed the fight, stated that the Gaekwar was an enthusiastic naturalist and is devoted to the gladiatorial fights, and had long been intending to test the strength of the two jungle monarchs. [4]

Venue

The fight took place in an amphitheatre. It had heavy logs, was open to the sky, and its arena was circular, with a diameter of about 50 feet (15 m). Within the arena was a belt about 6 feet (1.8 m) wide, lined by sheet iron to prevent the animals from escaping. The arena had seats or boxes for spectators. The Gaekwad was on a Royal box with other dignitaries. [1]

Appearance

The beasts were shifted from their pens into wooden cages, which were then taken to the arena. After Rajput attendants left the ring, the Gaekwad pulled the ropes, which were attached to the doors of the cages. First the tiger emerged from its cage, then Atlas. [1]

The tiger was more than 10 feet (3.0 m) long, over 4 feet (1.2 m) at the shoulder, had long teeth and claws, besides strong shoulders, and was agile. People considered it to be the biggest man-eater that they ever saw in India. They chose an African lion to fight it, rather than an Asiatic lion in India, because the latter was considered to be too 'small' or 'timorous' to cope with the tiger. [1] In reality, it appears from reports of clashes between Indian lions and tigers, besides that they co-existed before the end of the 19th century, that Asiatic lions could compete with tigers. [7] [8] For example, a draw was reported by St. Landry Democrat (1887), [9] The Eaton Democrat (1887), [10] The Iola Register (1887), [11] The Milan Exchange (1887), [12] and The Sydney Mail (1889), [8] from The Sun (New York) , and a victory for the lion was reported by Herne (1855). [13]

Atlas looked taller at the head than the tiger, and had a large mane, legs, and paws. It was described by Gettysburg Compiler (1899) [1] as being "much superior to the black-maned lions of South Africa (themselves described as being among the largest lions) in bulk and bravery", that it, or its subspecies, was "the largest or most formidable of all African felidae", and therefore, that it was bigger than the Asiatic lion. However, it is not unanimously held that the Barbary and Cape lions were the largest lions (See Physical comparison of tigers and lions ). [14] [15] [16] Nevertheless, an English Colonel called 'Maitland', who supported the tiger, described the lion as a 'monster'. [1]

Both were hungry, as their diets had been reduced from their regular intake of food, beforehand. Gettysburg Compiler (1899) said "If the tiger was the personification of graceful strength and supple energy, the lion was the embodiment of massive power and adamantine muscle." [1]

The fight

The tiger crawled forward, crouched flat and calculated the distance for a spring at Atlas. Atlas' tail lashed at its sides, as it gave a deep roar and waited for the tiger to attack. The tiger sprang at Atlas, which then rose up on its hind legs, and crashed with the tiger. The two yelled, snarled and rolled over on the ground. They regained their feet and shook to be free. When they parted from the clinch, Atlas swung his right, clawed, paw on the tiger's head, ripping its ear, and scratching off skin. The tiger rolled off. Atlas went to get it, and swiped its paw, but the tiger managed to twist away from Atlas' paw-swipe, and escaped. Then Atlas advanced, but the tiger retreated. [1]

The tiger then jumped into the air, landing on Atlas' back, though Atlas was about 20 feet (6.1 m) away. At first, Atlas looked disgusted, but then it forced the tiger to the wall of the arena. However, the tiger did not decide to escape again, rather, it ran, with its head nearly at the ground, towards Atlas' legs. Despite a crash, the tiger's head did not shake, and the two cats rose on their hind legs. For at least three minutes, they exchanged right and left paw-swipes. The tiger's paw-swipes were faster than those of Atlas, outnumbering Atlas' paw-swipes three-to-one. Atlas' paw-swipes had been heavier, inflicting deeper gashes on the tiger's hide, than those of the tiger to Atlas' hide. Both cats injured, they retreated from each other. Blood flew from their flanks. The tiger retreated to the wall, to hug it, whereas Atlas stood his ground, even though blood was dripping from about twenty wounds, and roared ferociously. [1]

After resting for a few moments, the tiger tried to circle Atlas, with Atlas looking worried, as his rushes did not stop the tiger at first. Then, sensing an opportunity, Atlas charged, but the tiger avoided the charge, and jumped onto Atlas’ back again. Their bodies, bloodied and dirtied by the dust, rolled halfway across the arena. Atlas shook himself off the tiger, and delivered right swipes. One of the swipes dealt a blow to the tiger, causing it to stagger and retreat. After retreating, the tiger sat, studying how effective the previous tussle was. Atlas was mauled, but not yet killed, with two long rips on his back, having deep bites to the shoulder, which bled, and he panted hoarsely, with the wind flowing less evidently than that of the tiger. [1]

After observing Atlas for a moment, the tiger tried circling Atlas again. Atlas rushed, facing the tiger's claws. After the tussle, the lion, running out of breath, sank to his knees. The tiger, though it looked stronger, had its stripes disappear under fast-flowing blood. [1]

The tiger sprang onto Atlas, who now staggered. It bit Atlas' nose, then tried to bite Atlas' throat. However, the mane saved Atlas' neck, so the tiger's bite did not suffocate Atlas. Instead, as they wrestled much, the tiger managed to get hair in its mouth, and the hair interfered with the tiger's respiration, so it had to release its hold on Atlas, allowing Atlas to deliver a massive left uppercut. The uppercut caused the tiger to stumble to about 20 feet (6.1 m) away. [1]

The tiger circled Atlas like a snake. Although Atlas looked formidable and brave, he could not follow the tiger's motions. Then the tiger charged at Atlas. Atlas used his claws, but he missed the tiger, and went over with it. The tiger frantically pawed Atlas' body, using both fore and hind paws, for forty seconds. However, Atlas managed to throw the tiger off, but then Atlas tried to roar, before falling down and dying. [1]

Aftermath

The Gaekwad agreed to pay 37,000 rupees, ordered that Atlas' body be buried in Royal fashion, and that the tiger was to be given a "cage of honour" in the menagerie of Baroda. He accepted that the tiger was the "King of the Cat Family", while speaking to Colonel Maitland, and thought of a match between the tiger and another animal. Colonel Maitland then said that the tiger was not the "King of Carnivorae", to which the Gaekwad asked "Indeed?" The Colonel replied by saying that he hunted in the Rocky Mountains, and that a grizzly bear could 'whip' the tiger. Therefore, the Gaekwad decided to prepare the tiger for a battle with a Sierran grizzly bear weighing over 1,500 pounds (680 kg). The preparation involved the tiger recovering from its injuries. [1] [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

Sloth bear Species of bear

The sloth bear is a myrmecophagous bear species native to the Indian subcontinent. It feeds on fruits, ants and termites. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, mainly because of habitat loss and degradation.

Androcles Main character of a common folktale

Androcles, is the main character of a common folktale about a man befriending a lion.

Zoomorphism Type of art

The word zoomorphism derives from the Greek ζωον (zōon), meaning "animal", and μορφη (morphē), meaning "shape" or "form". In the context of art, zoomorphism could describe art that imagines humans as non-human animals. It can also be defined as art that portrays one species of animal like another species of animal or art that uses animals as a visual motif, sometimes referred to as "animal style." In ancient Egyptian religion, deities were depicted in animal form which is an example of zoomorphism in not only art but in a religious context. It is also similar to the term therianthropy; which is the ability to shape shift into animal form, except that with zoomorphism the animal form is applied to a physical object. It means to attribute animal forms or animal characteristics to other animals, or things other than an animal; similar to but broader than anthropomorphism. Contrary to anthropomorphism, which views animal or non-animal behavior in human terms, zoomorphism is the tendency of viewing human behavior in terms of the behavior of animals. It is also used in literature to portray the act of humans or objects with animalistic behavior or features. The use of zoomorphism served as a decorative element to objects that are typically quite simple in shape and design.

Atlas bear Extinct subspecies of brown bear in Africa

The Atlas bear and African bear is an extinct population or populations of brown bear native to North Africa that went extinct in historical times.

Headcrab Fictional creature of the Half-Life video game series

A headcrab is a fictional alien parasitoid found in the Half-Life video game series created by Valve.

Sayajirao Gaekwad III Maharaja of Baroda from 1875–1939

Sayajirao Gaekwad III was the Maharaja of Baroda State from 1875 to 1939, and is remembered for reforming much of his state during his rule. He belonged to the royal Gaekwad dynasty of the Marathas which ruled parts of present-day Gujarat.

Lion-baiting

Lion-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of lions.

Mike the Tiger

Mike the Tiger is the mascot of Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and serves as the graphic image of LSU sports. Mike is the name of both the live and costumed mascots.

<i>Roar</i> (film) 1981 American adventure comedy film by Noel Marshall

Roar is a 1981 American adventure comedy film written, produced, and directed by Noel Marshall. Roar's story follows Hank, a naturalist who lives on a nature preserve in Africa with lions, tigers, and other big cats. When his family visits him, they are instead confronted by the group of animals. The film stars Marshall as Hank, his real-life wife Tippi Hedren as his wife Madeleine, with Hedren's daughter Melanie Griffith and Marshall's sons John and Jerry Marshall in supporting roles.

The William G. Mennen Sports Arena, commonly called the Mennen Sports Arena or the Mennen Arena, is a 2,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Morris Township, New Jersey. It hosts various local concerts and sporting events for the area. Mennen hosted one game for the New Jersey XTreme of the National Indoor Football League in 2005, and was formerly the home of the New Jersey Revolution of the American Indoor Football Association. Mennen also is the home of the County College of Morris hockey team as well as most of the public high school hockey teams in Morris County, New Jersey. Mennen is also one of the host arenas for the New Jersey Colonials, the main training center for the Skating Club of Morris, and the Precisely Right synchronized skating team.

San Francisco Zoo tiger attacks

Two tiger attacks occurred at the San Francisco Zoo, in 2006 and 2007, both involving a female Siberian tiger named Tatiana. In the first incident, a zookeeper was bitten on the arm during a public feeding. In the second incident, one person was killed and two others were injured before police shot and killed Tatiana.

Bear-baiting Blood sport with bears

Bear-baiting is a blood sport in which a chained bear and one or more dogs are forced to fight one another. It may also involve pitting a bear against another animal.

<i>Damnatio ad bestias</i>

Damnatio ad bestias was a form of Roman capital punishment where the condemned person was killed by wild animals, usually lions or other big cats. This form of execution, which first appeared during the Roman Republic around the 2nd century BC, had been part of a wider class of blood sports called Bestiarii.

The 2010–2011 season was the 24th campaign of the British Basketball League since the league's establishment in 1987. This season saw the league reduced to 12 teams with the withdrawal of London Capital during the summer and was the first campaign ever to not feature a club from the capital city London.

Tiger versus lion Historical comparison of tiger and lion

Historically, a comparison of the tiger versus the lion has been a popular topic of discussion by hunters, naturalists, artists and poets, and has inspired the popular imagination. In the past, lions and tigers reportedly competed in the wilderness, where their ranges overlapped in Eurasia. The most common reported circumstance of their meeting is in captivity, either deliberately or by accident.

Denglong (mythology)

The Dēnglóng, or Wàngtiānhǒu, Cháotiānhǒu, or simply Hǒu is a Chinese legendary creature.

Four Paws Global animal welfare organisation based in Vienna, Austria

Four Paws is a global animal welfare organisation based in Vienna, Austria. The organisation is focusing on gradually improving the living conditions of animals under direct human influence, by revealing suffering, rescuing animals in need and protecting them.

Ellen Blight English lion tamer (1833–1850)

Ellen Eliza Blight (1833–1850), also known as Helen Bright, was an English lion tamer, known as "The Lion Queen", who was killed by a tiger while working in her uncle George Wombwell's menagerie, aged 17. Her shocking death made her a media sensation.

Thomas Macarte

Thomas Macarte was a one-armed lion tamer who as Massarti the Lion-Tamer was attacked and killed during a circus performance in Bolton in Lancashire.

Rajmahal, Mehsana

Rajmahal is a palace in Mehsana, Gujarat, India. Built in 1904 by Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda State, it was used as the government office and later as the court until 2017. It has three floors and 130 rooms.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Lion against tiger". Gettysburg Compiler. 7 February 1899. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  2. 1 2 Lion against tiger. The Baltimore Sun . 26 January 1899. p. 3. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  3. ↑ "BIG LION AND TIGER FIGHT". The Horsham Times . No. 4191. Victoria, Australia. 19 October 1900. p. 2 (SECOND Supplement to The Horsham Times). Retrieved 11 November 2019– via National Library of Australia.
  4. 1 2 "Lion against Tiger". Shepherdstown Register. 2 Feb 1899. p. 1. Retrieved 10 November 2019– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "His Highness Sayajirao Gaekwad III". Gaekwadsofbardoa.com. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  6. ↑ Lawson, Alastair (2011-12-10). "Indian maharajah's daring act of anti-colonial dissent". The BBC . Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  7. ↑ Packer, C. "Frequently asked questions". University of Minnesota Lion Research Project. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  8. 1 2 "A Terrible Struggle". The Sydney Mail. 1889-12-21. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  9. ↑ "An Awful Fight: A Combat Between a Tiger and a Lion". St. Landry Democrat. 1887-04-30. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  10. ↑ "An Awful Fight: A Combat Between a Tiger and a Lion". The Eaton Democrat. 1887-04-14. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  11. ↑ "An Awful Fight: A Combat Between a Tiger and a Lion". The Iola Register. 1887-04-22. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  12. ↑ "An Awful Fight: A Combat Between a Tiger and a Lion". The Milan Exchange. 1887-04-23. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  13. ↑ Herne, P. (1855). "XXIII: Domus. Surat. The nature of the jungles beyond. A boa constrictor. A tiger. A lion. Terrible conflict. A Banyan tree.". Perils and Pleasures of a Hunter's Life; or the Romance of Hunting by Peregrine Herne. Cornell University Library. pp. 194–204. Retrieved 2017-07-08.
  14. ↑ Haas, S.K.; Hayssen, V.; Krausman, P.R. (2005). "Panthera leo" (PDF). Mammalian Species. 762: 1–11. doi:10.1644/1545-1410(2005)762[0001:PL]2.0.CO;2.
  15. ↑ Jardine, W. (1834). The Naturalist's Library. Mammalia Vol. II: the Natural History of Felinae. W. H. Lizars, Edinburgh.
  16. ↑ Wood, The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats. Sterling Pub Co Inc. (1983), ISBN   978-0-85112-235-9
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.