18.
Little Tyke
True Story of A Gentle Vegetarian Lioness
At four years old, the mature African lioness weighed 352 pounds. Her body stretched 10 feet 4 inches long and could run 40 miles per hour. Her skull, highly adapted to killing and eating prey, possessed short powerful jaws. Normally, African lions eat gnus, zebras, gazelles, impalas, and giraffes. This particular big cat, in her prime and perfect health, chose a more gentle way of life, vegetarian!
A Violent Birth
Georges and Margaret Westbeau, standing outside the thick steel bars of the cage, watched nervously. Inside, a vicious, raging beast baring razor claws and glistening fangs, roared. Flinging herself at the couple, who watched from barely three feet away, her suffering amber eyes defied their presence.
Always, in the past, this lioness destroyed her offspring as soon as they were born. Four times in the last seven years, her powerful jaws had crushed her newborn cubs, furiously throwing them against her cage's bars where they tumbled, lifeless.
Denying the normal instincts of motherhood, what possessed this lioness? Her life mocked its former freedom. She lived a caged animal, taken from the wild and tortured by those who captured her. Did she feel that by destroying her cubs they would be spared the humiliation that she endured?
Suddenly, the newborn cub came flying towards the people anxiously watching. Georges quickly grabbed the cub through the bars before it could be killed. Its right front leg dangled helplessly from its mother's brutal jaws. In the face of such fury the only thing the human could say was, 'You poor little tike'.
The Westbeaus took the three-pound 'Little Tyke' to their Hidden Valley Ranch near Seattle and there it joined the menagerie of other animals including horses, cattle, and chickens. Curious peacocks lined the housetop, kittens peered through a picket fence, and two terriers danced with joy for the new addition to the household. Drinking bottles of warm milk, Little Tyke began the long road to recovery.
Always, in the past, this lioness destroyed her offspring as soon as they were born. Four times in the last seven years, her powerful jaws had crushed her newborn cubs, furiously throwing them against her cage's bars where they tumbled, lifeless.
Denying the normal instincts of motherhood, what possessed this lioness? Her life mocked its former freedom. She lived a caged animal, taken from the wild and tortured by those who captured her. Did she feel that by destroying her cubs they would be spared the humiliation that she endured?
Suddenly, the newborn cub came flying towards the people anxiously watching. Georges quickly grabbed the cub through the bars before it could be killed. Its right front leg dangled helplessly from its mother's brutal jaws. In the face of such fury the only thing the human could say was, 'You poor little tike'.
The Westbeaus took the three-pound 'Little Tyke' to their Hidden Valley Ranch near Seattle and there it joined the menagerie of other animals including horses, cattle, and chickens. Curious peacocks lined the housetop, kittens peered through a picket fence, and two terriers danced with joy for the new addition to the household. Drinking bottles of warm milk, Little Tyke began the long road to recovery.
Mysterious Reaction

With the advice of experts the Westbeaus began weaning Little Tyke onto solid food at three months. Leaving only a favorite doll, they removed most of her rubber toys, replacing them with bones from freshly slaughtered beef. They carried the small cub to the bones. Unexpectedly, she violently threw up!
Experts told them in no uncertain terms that lions couldn't live without meat. In the wild, lions ate only flesh - eleven pounds a day for an adult female. Alarmed at Little Tyke's strange behavior, they wondered at how they could introduce meat into her diet? In the meantime, they continued feeding Little Tyke baby cereal mixed with milk.
A well meaning friend suggested mixing beef blood with milk, in increasing proportions. Given milk containing ten drops of blood, Little Tyke would have nothing to do with it. They mixed in five drops of blood, and hid that bottle. As she sucked on the plain milk they quickly switched bottles. Again she refused it. In desperation they added *one* drop of blood to a full bottle of milk, but Little Tyke refused this bottle as well, and they could only stare in amazement.
Another friend suggested putting plain milk in one hand, and milk mixed with hamburger in the palm of the other hand. Little Tyke readily licked the milk from one hand, but when Georges changed hands, she immediately turned away. Sensing her distress, Georges wiped his hands on a nearby towel and picked her up. Hissing in fear and cringing away, she looked sick from the danger-smell of meat on his hand. She only settled down when given a fresh bottle of milk held in washed hands.
Experts told them in no uncertain terms that lions couldn't live without meat. In the wild, lions ate only flesh - eleven pounds a day for an adult female. Alarmed at Little Tyke's strange behavior, they wondered at how they could introduce meat into her diet? In the meantime, they continued feeding Little Tyke baby cereal mixed with milk.
A well meaning friend suggested mixing beef blood with milk, in increasing proportions. Given milk containing ten drops of blood, Little Tyke would have nothing to do with it. They mixed in five drops of blood, and hid that bottle. As she sucked on the plain milk they quickly switched bottles. Again she refused it. In desperation they added *one* drop of blood to a full bottle of milk, but Little Tyke refused this bottle as well, and they could only stare in amazement.
Another friend suggested putting plain milk in one hand, and milk mixed with hamburger in the palm of the other hand. Little Tyke readily licked the milk from one hand, but when Georges changed hands, she immediately turned away. Sensing her distress, Georges wiped his hands on a nearby towel and picked her up. Hissing in fear and cringing away, she looked sick from the danger-smell of meat on his hand. She only settled down when given a fresh bottle of milk held in washed hands.
Thousand-dollar Reward
At nine months old and weighing sixty-five pounds, Little Tyke had the splints and bandages on her leg taken off for the last time. She slowly learned to depend on the healed leg, and mingled with other animals on the ranch.
Since the ranch didn't earn enough income to make ends meet, the Westbeaus ran a small cold storage plant in town. Little Tyke came with them when they went to work and word got around about this vegetarian lioness. When she was four years old, the Westbeaus advertised a thousand dollar reward for anyone who could devise a method tricking Little Tyke into eating meat. Numerous plans met with failure since Little Tyke refused to have anything to do with flesh.
Since the ranch didn't earn enough income to make ends meet, the Westbeaus ran a small cold storage plant in town. Little Tyke came with them when they went to work and word got around about this vegetarian lioness. When she was four years old, the Westbeaus advertised a thousand dollar reward for anyone who could devise a method tricking Little Tyke into eating meat. Numerous plans met with failure since Little Tyke refused to have anything to do with flesh.
The Answer

The caretakers of this gentle animal sought out animal experts, always asking them about diet. Finally, one young visitor set their mind at ease. With serious eyes he turned to them and asked, 'Read Genisis 1:30, and you will get your answer.' At his first opportunity Georges read in astonishment, 'And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.' At that point, after four years, the Westbeaus finally stopped worrying.
Little Tyke's Meals
A typical meal consisted of various grains, chosen for their protein, calcium, fats, and roughage. Margaret always cooked a few days' supply ahead of time. At feeding time, a double handful of the cooked grains along with one-half gallon of milk, supplied Little Tyke a delicious meal. She had one condition before eating. Her favorite rubber doll had to be right next to her!
For teeth and gums, the Westbeaus supplied rubber boots, since she refused bones. They attracted her to the boots by sprinkling them with perfume. One boot lasted almost a month.
Little Tyke had many close animal friends. Her favorites were Pinky (a kitten), Imp (another kitten), Becky (a lamb) and Baby (a fawn). Her favorite and closest friend, however, was Becky, who preferred Little Tyke's company to any of the other animals.
For teeth and gums, the Westbeaus supplied rubber boots, since she refused bones. They attracted her to the boots by sprinkling them with perfume. One boot lasted almost a month.
Little Tyke had many close animal friends. Her favorites were Pinky (a kitten), Imp (another kitten), Becky (a lamb) and Baby (a fawn). Her favorite and closest friend, however, was Becky, who preferred Little Tyke's company to any of the other animals.
National Publicity
You Asked For It, the popular television show hosted by Art Baker, once featured Little Tyke. The producers wanted a scene with chickens, which didn't bother Georges since Little Tyke roamed easily among chickens at Hidden Valley Ranch. When the film crew brought the chickens in, they turned out to be four little day-old chicks!
Slurp of The Tongue

Little Tyke's only previous experience with new chicks had been with a hen and her chicks who had wandered onto the lawns around their home on the ranch. Georges thought nothing of it until he saw Little Tyke acting peculiarly, slinking into the house, and looking guilty with lips tightly closed over obviously open jaws. He called 'Tyke! What have you got?' Instantly her mouth opened and a little chick popped out, unharmed. Flapping it's little down-covered wings, it almost flew back to its upset mother. Apparently Little Tyke had affectionately licked the tiny chick, as she was prone to do when, with one huge slurp of the tongue, the little chick had popped into her mouth, and she hadn't known how to fondle it further!
With the amazed camera crew filming, Little Tyke strode over to the chicks, hesitated long enough to lick the chicks ‘carefully’ and ‘gently’ with the very ‘tip’ of her tongue, and moved away with a yawn. A moment later she came back to lie down among the chicks. They immediately made their way into the long silky hair at the base of her great neck where they peered out from the shelter of their great protector.
Another scene saw a new kitten, after an introduction, walk over to Little Tyke's huge foreleg and sit down. Little Tyke crooked one paw around the tiny creature and cuddled it closer.
In front of cameras, Art Baker picked up the Bible and read: 'The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock.' Mail poured into the producers, making this episode one of the most popular in the show's history.
With the amazed camera crew filming, Little Tyke strode over to the chicks, hesitated long enough to lick the chicks ‘carefully’ and ‘gently’ with the very ‘tip’ of her tongue, and moved away with a yawn. A moment later she came back to lie down among the chicks. They immediately made their way into the long silky hair at the base of her great neck where they peered out from the shelter of their great protector.
Another scene saw a new kitten, after an introduction, walk over to Little Tyke's huge foreleg and sit down. Little Tyke crooked one paw around the tiny creature and cuddled it closer.
In front of cameras, Art Baker picked up the Bible and read: 'The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock.' Mail poured into the producers, making this episode one of the most popular in the show's history.
Little Tyke's Death
Unfortunately, while spending three weeks in Hollywood for the show, Little Tyke contracted virus pneumonia, a disease that took her life a few weeks later. The sudden change in climate may have been a contributing factor. She succumbed quietly in her sleep, retiring early after watching television.
Inspiring To This Day
Her life is over, but her teachings live on. Of the many lessons she taught, not the least is that love removes fear and savagery. Little Tyke reflected the love and care shown to her after the first few moments of her precarious birth.
Thousands saw photographs of her lying with her lamb friend, Becky, inspiring many to see the world a fresh way: two such diverse natures enjoying each other's love! One eminent attorney kept a huge enlargement of this photograph in his office, and pointed to it as he counseled couples on the verge of divorce.
Thousands saw photographs of her lying with her lamb friend, Becky, inspiring many to see the world a fresh way: two such diverse natures enjoying each other's love! One eminent attorney kept a huge enlargement of this photograph in his office, and pointed to it as he counseled couples on the verge of divorce.
Scientific Dilemma

Science is at a loss when it comes to Little Tyke. Felines are the strictest of carnivores. Without flesh she should have developed blindness, as well as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a degenerative disease that turns heart muscles flabby and limits their ability to pump blood. This is because her diet didn't contain an adequate source of the amino acid, taurine.
Taurine is non-existent in natural non-animal sources. But still, its the milk that saved the day. In ancient India, many sages would maintain these big cats on a diet of milk and grains.
Perhaps even more important, why did Little Tyke disown her species' instincts? Little Tyke is a curiosity to the public, aberration to zoologists, anomaly to scientists, and an inspiration to idealists.
To condition her stomach, Little Tyke would spend an hour at a time eating the tall grass in the fields--another striking reminder of the prophecies of Isaiah 11:7 and 65:25, "the lion will eat straw like the ox."
Little Tyke had an exceptionally gentle and loving nature, and all animal farms came to be petted by her without any fear.
Little Tyke's story started to spread in the Great Depression-ravaged America, giving spiritual hope and renewed faith to people from all walks of life. She was taken on tour to be shown to a public desperately hungry for love and innocence.
Her extraordinary story is related in the book written by George Westbeau, Little Tyke: The Story of a Gentle Vegetarian Lioness, published by the Theosophical Publishing House, IL, USA, 1986.
Taurine is non-existent in natural non-animal sources. But still, its the milk that saved the day. In ancient India, many sages would maintain these big cats on a diet of milk and grains.
Perhaps even more important, why did Little Tyke disown her species' instincts? Little Tyke is a curiosity to the public, aberration to zoologists, anomaly to scientists, and an inspiration to idealists.
To condition her stomach, Little Tyke would spend an hour at a time eating the tall grass in the fields--another striking reminder of the prophecies of Isaiah 11:7 and 65:25, "the lion will eat straw like the ox."
Little Tyke had an exceptionally gentle and loving nature, and all animal farms came to be petted by her without any fear.
Little Tyke's story started to spread in the Great Depression-ravaged America, giving spiritual hope and renewed faith to people from all walks of life. She was taken on tour to be shown to a public desperately hungry for love and innocence.
Her extraordinary story is related in the book written by George Westbeau, Little Tyke: The Story of a Gentle Vegetarian Lioness, published by the Theosophical Publishing House, IL, USA, 1986.
A Lioness Who Prayed

Little Tyke wasn't alone. A photograph taken at Allahabad, India in 1936 shows another awesome lioness.
In Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramahamsa Yogananda wrote:
“...Our group left the peaceful hermitage to greet a near-by swami, Krishnananda, a handsome monk with rosy cheeks and impressive shoulders. Reclining near him was a tame lioness. Succumbing to the monk's spiritual charm - not, I am sure, to his powerful physique! - the jungle animal refuses all meat in favor of rice and milk. The swami has taught the tawny-haired beast to utter "Aum" in a deep, attractive growl - a cat devotee!”
These vegetarian lionesses invite us to discover a less violent world, turning away from slaughterhouses.
The article is from the book "Vegetarian Cats & Dogs" by James A. Peden.
In Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramahamsa Yogananda wrote:
“...Our group left the peaceful hermitage to greet a near-by swami, Krishnananda, a handsome monk with rosy cheeks and impressive shoulders. Reclining near him was a tame lioness. Succumbing to the monk's spiritual charm - not, I am sure, to his powerful physique! - the jungle animal refuses all meat in favor of rice and milk. The swami has taught the tawny-haired beast to utter "Aum" in a deep, attractive growl - a cat devotee!”
These vegetarian lionesses invite us to discover a less violent world, turning away from slaughterhouses.
The article is from the book "Vegetarian Cats & Dogs" by James A. Peden.
Lea - The Spaghetti Lioness From Italy

Watched by camera-toting journalists, in January 2002 a very remarkable Lioness named Lea arrived at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve near Johannesburg, South Africa, after a 30-hour journey from Rome, Italy.
Why 'very remarkable'? Because this seven-year-old female feline did not fit the 'ferocious carnivore' Lion stereo-type, having been raised not on meat but on a diet of potatoes, green vegetables and cheesy pasta. Lea had in fact been nicknamed the 'Spaghetti Kid' after her favourite food, spaghetti, which she especially loved flavoured with Neapolitan sauce.
And now the caretakers at her new home in South Africa were facing 'the real challenge', for the first time in Lea’s life, of introducing this 'Spaghetti Kid' to meat and to the companionship of other Lions.
Lea's mother lived in Naples Zoo, which had a policy of selling the cubs born there. So at the tender age of six weeks, Lea found herself in the Italian village of Nettuno in the care of a man called Antonio Vincenzo. The two seemed inseparable; Lea slept on Antonio’s bed at night and accompanied him everywhere by day, without any leash or restraint- across busy streets, among crowds and even to the local supermarket. No wonder that 'everyone in Nettuno knew Lea', and of her diet of spaghetti, vegetables and tomato sauce.
Why 'very remarkable'? Because this seven-year-old female feline did not fit the 'ferocious carnivore' Lion stereo-type, having been raised not on meat but on a diet of potatoes, green vegetables and cheesy pasta. Lea had in fact been nicknamed the 'Spaghetti Kid' after her favourite food, spaghetti, which she especially loved flavoured with Neapolitan sauce.
And now the caretakers at her new home in South Africa were facing 'the real challenge', for the first time in Lea’s life, of introducing this 'Spaghetti Kid' to meat and to the companionship of other Lions.
Lea's mother lived in Naples Zoo, which had a policy of selling the cubs born there. So at the tender age of six weeks, Lea found herself in the Italian village of Nettuno in the care of a man called Antonio Vincenzo. The two seemed inseparable; Lea slept on Antonio’s bed at night and accompanied him everywhere by day, without any leash or restraint- across busy streets, among crowds and even to the local supermarket. No wonder that 'everyone in Nettuno knew Lea', and of her diet of spaghetti, vegetables and tomato sauce.
Everyone has an obligation to feed whoever is hungry -- even if it is a tiger. Once a certain spiritual teacher was living in the jungle. His disciples knew, "The tigers will never come and disturb us, because our teacher keeps some milk a little distance from the asrama, and the tigers come and drink and go away." |

But when Lea was a year old, Antonio's work circumstances changed and he could no longer look after his 'pet' at his home. A zoo on the outskirts of Rome agreed to accommodate Lea, provided Antonio supplied the zoo with her food. And so Lea continued to grow on her diet of pasta, ricotta cheese and vegetables. But, seeing her confined to a 4 m x 4 m (13 ft x 13 ft) concrete enclosure at the zoo, Antonio resolved to find Lea better living quarters. (Antonio visited her every Sunday- the Lioness would whimper and cry when it was time for him to leave.
After years of fruitless searching, eventually the way was clear for Lea to be sent to South Africa- Antonio would accompany her on the journey and remain at Lea's new home for a few weeks to help her adapt.
Given Lea's distinctive nickname ('Spaghetti Lioness') and the publicity associated with her move to South Africa, many people got to hear of what Lea had eaten for the first seven years of her life—and were amazed. One journalist wrote: 'Not with standing her strange diet she thrived'. This Lioness had not only survived, but thrived on a meatless diet from infancy.
But Lea is not unique, many other animals normally regarded as being meat-eaters (e.g. dogs, vultures), are known to be able to live on meatless diets.
As Lea emerged from her transportation crate at her grassy new home, a crowd of camera-clicking reporters awaited the photo opportunity: Lea devouring her first South African meal of pasta, cheese and sliced tomato.
But Lea took one sniff and walked away.
"No, no, no", said Antonio. "It has to be Italian pasta and cheese, and tomato sauce- never cut tomatoes".
As they say- you can travel the world, but there’s nothing like good old home cooking!
After years of fruitless searching, eventually the way was clear for Lea to be sent to South Africa- Antonio would accompany her on the journey and remain at Lea's new home for a few weeks to help her adapt.
Given Lea's distinctive nickname ('Spaghetti Lioness') and the publicity associated with her move to South Africa, many people got to hear of what Lea had eaten for the first seven years of her life—and were amazed. One journalist wrote: 'Not with standing her strange diet she thrived'. This Lioness had not only survived, but thrived on a meatless diet from infancy.
But Lea is not unique, many other animals normally regarded as being meat-eaters (e.g. dogs, vultures), are known to be able to live on meatless diets.
As Lea emerged from her transportation crate at her grassy new home, a crowd of camera-clicking reporters awaited the photo opportunity: Lea devouring her first South African meal of pasta, cheese and sliced tomato.
But Lea took one sniff and walked away.
"No, no, no", said Antonio. "It has to be Italian pasta and cheese, and tomato sauce- never cut tomatoes".
As they say- you can travel the world, but there’s nothing like good old home cooking!