--- title: "‘Lion Capturing’ was the worst military work detail in history" date: "2018-04-02" modified: "2020-10-22" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/lion-capturing-was-the-worst-military-work-detail-in-history/" categories: - "History" --- # ‘Lion Capturing’ was the worst military work detail in history ![]() Work details and additional duties are a part of military life — always have been and likely always will be. --- We've all been on a terrible detail. Some of us get stuck vacuuming the flightline or doing some other kind of FOD cleanup. Others have it worse. ![]() *Way worse.* In Basic Training, I was on the Day Room Crew, which meant I had to chase dust bunnies for a half hour twice a day. It's much better than having to chase real bunnies. Or lions. I wouldn't want to chase real lions, either. Luckily for me, that is not ([usually]()) a detail that happens in the modern U.S. military. ![]() *Most of the time, anyway. (Texas State photo)* In the Roman Legions, however, it was a fairly common practice. While many are aware of the Roman propensity for forcing people to fight animals of all kinds for fun and profit, few actually consider the logistics of getting animals to Rome – or who catches those animals. In 2002, [The Guardian newspaper talked to Roger Wilson of Nottingham University]() about where these animals originated and who set out to take them alive. Archeologists discovered the logistical network through a series of bone fragments, mosaic art, and written records dating back to the days of the Roman Empire. Interestingly enough, some of these troops weren't on a special work detail. This was their job. ![]() *Good thing he's wearing a reflective belt.* The troops caught lions in what is today known as Armenia. They captured bears and boars from Northern Europe as well as elephants; giraffes; ostriches; leopards; and hippos from the African frontiers. All of them had to be subdued without spears, knives, or even tranquilizers. The legions could not risk killing the animals. "Such was the ferocity of these beasts that their capture demanded special skills and the creation of a special post. An inscription in Cologne talks of the capture of 50 bears in a six-month period," Wilson told [The Guardian](). Wilson also said that posting men at the empire's frontier to capture exotic animals was a good way to keep them occupied. It may have taken the troops quite a bit of time. But like modern forces, they could be very resourceful in completing the mission. They would beat drums and drive the animals toward legions carrying nets. Sometimes they trapped the animals in deep pits. Other times they wore sheepskins and constantly distracted the animals until they dropped from exhaustion. ![]() The troops would be constantly on the move, as the games required a seemingly unending number of animals. In the year 80 alone — the opening days of the Colosseum in Rome — [Romans used more than 5,000 animals in the games](). When the animals were killed, they were likely thrown into mass graves with humans killed in the games. ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()