Wild beast fighting was practiced in the coliseum but it was not the primary attraction. The animals were thrown in the field hoping for the gladiators to kill them and tame nature in some way. The coliseums construction permitted that the animals could be kept underground the main arena. The way they liberated the animals was by opening compartments and the animals exited to the main circle to battle the gladiator. The animals were maintained with hunger to maintain their savage behavior and to provide the audience a better battle.