Animals and Humans: The Bond of Mother Nature
One of the most often asked questions of Siegfried & Roy is how they build their relationship with their exotic animals as there are no manuals or “how to” books.
“You must begin by being open – open to new ideas and to new experiences,” says Roy. “You leave behind almost everything you take for granted about communicating with another human being. You don’t hear words…only sounds spoken in a language you don’t speak. But you can learn to communicate in ways you’ve never dreamed: watching, observing and listening.”
Siegfried & Roy’s relationship with their animals comes from the core of their motivation…conservations of all wildlife especially the Royal White Tigers of Nevada and the Magical White Lions.
“You may know the behavior you want from an animal,” notes Siegfried, “but what does the animal want from you? What does he want from his surroundings? When does he want to play and how does he want to play? When does he want to be alone? These are just a few things one must discover.”
Roy adds, “I’ve learned that every animal is different, and like humans, their moods change. You must discover these things for yourself. With each new animal you start all over again. There are no directions that you can follow to build this special relationship. Learning about an animal can be compared to studying a book in which every pages is written in code. Can you break the code? Do you have the patience? Can you devote the time? Do you have the desire to break through the barrier? Do you care to try harder at this one thing than anything you’ve ever done in your life?”
Siegfried & Roy agree it all comes down to how much you’re willing to give of yourself because you must forget about time. You can’t measure trust in days or hours or even years as Mother Nature needs time to work her magic.
The Magicians of the Century’s rapport with Mother Nature is evidenced nightly on stage at The Mirage and in their Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat.
“So much of our time is spent learning about the ‘space’ each animal – and us – needs. We don’t just work together, we live together,” smiles Roy, “I spend the biggest part of my day, and life, with the animals. I talk to them, take walks with them, swim with them and even mediate with them.
“Over time a bond begins to grow and then strengthen. In time, the most beautiful of relationships is formed. There is respect, understanding and trust. I can say in a word what the animals mean to me, but I must show them what they mean to me. I believe every one of the animals know how much he or she is loved. However, we never forget for a moment that these are nature’s beasts…full of dignity and majesty. I always treat them with the respect they deserve.
