It's the wild and wooly west this week in the media, and yesterday's lion brought us to today's next big cat - leopard. You see, the basic needs of all animals must be met - such as food or water - or rapid deterioration ensues of whatever society and hierarchy has been established. The leopard was thirsty; an unattended bucket had water. Natural progression to try to drink.
But, the size of the problem was underestimated by the fierce feline. He got stuck in a new problem while solving his other problem. Tigers are not ones to ask for help - and it's good that people still want to help a beast that could kill them with the flick of a claw.
Some people rushed to help - not hurt, not avoid, not make fun of the plight of the tiger. Six hours and many hands made the work a success. And the tiger and people went on their ways, unharmed.
Yet some people stood at the wayside, waiting to see the outcome of man versus beast versus pot. How useful is that? So do you want to lead a rescue or watch others take action?
Another "Big Cat" comes to mind, more than 200 years ago in the Songs of Experience that served as the companion of Songs of Innocence. The Tyger is the retort to The Lamb, from stanza two:
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
Seize your fire and run with Tygers toward your dreams.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/sep/30/pot-head-leopard-gets-head-stuck-in-pan-video
(As a bonus, if you are a person who needs the trifecta, the trilogy, the story as originally sung on that yellow brick road - never fear. The bear story is here: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/10/151001-grizzly-bears-animals-science-conservation-nation/)
