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Sat, Feb 11 2012
Circus from hell comes to Czech Republic
A brown bear in its more natural habitat
Disturbing photographs taken in Jihlava, Czech Republic, and featured in the UK's Daily Mail newspaper, show brown bears being trained to figure skate and play ice hockey as part of the Russian Ice Circus' touring show.
The pictures show muzzled bears forced to perform routines such as handstands and other difficult gymnastic positions. One picture shows a bear, dressed as an ice hockey star, in what first appears to be a human being dressed as a bear.
However, according to the Daily Mail, "the muzzles were not strong enough to contain one particular bear, who last month lashed out at his handlers and circus staff before a performance of The Russian State Circus Company's Bears on Ice show in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan".
The Daily Mail reports that circus director Dmitry Potapov was dragged across the ice rink by a five-year-old bear, causing severe injuries which led to the 25-year-old's tragic death. The bear apparently "tore his neck and legs to pieces".
The newspaper also reports that circus employee Yevgeny Popov, who attempted to rescue Potapov as he was being mauled by the bear, was also severely injured.
The bear was later shot dead by local police but, according to the Daily Mail, this was not the first case of a circus employee being killed by a bear.
"In 2002 a bear on loan to the Bishkek City Zoo from Russia killed a small child who simply reached out to pet it. Experts later blamed its behaviour on severe malnourishment."
The pictures show muzzled bears forced to perform routines such as handstands and other difficult gymnastic positions. One picture shows a bear, dressed as an ice hockey star, in what first appears to be a human being dressed as a bear.
However, according to the Daily Mail, "the muzzles were not strong enough to contain one particular bear, who last month lashed out at his handlers and circus staff before a performance of The Russian State Circus Company's Bears on Ice show in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan".
The Daily Mail reports that circus director Dmitry Potapov was dragged across the ice rink by a five-year-old bear, causing severe injuries which led to the 25-year-old's tragic death. The bear apparently "tore his neck and legs to pieces".
The newspaper also reports that circus employee Yevgeny Popov, who attempted to rescue Potapov as he was being mauled by the bear, was also severely injured.
The bear was later shot dead by local police but, according to the Daily Mail, this was not the first case of a circus employee being killed by a bear.
"In 2002 a bear on loan to the Bishkek City Zoo from Russia killed a small child who simply reached out to pet it. Experts later blamed its behaviour on severe malnourishment."
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The Sofia Echo
this a horrible thing all animals should be free freak shows stink!!
at least that is my oppinion>.
Koine - When we venture into their territory we must repsect them and take care not to provoke them in any way.
We have people being attacked by crocodiles in the Northern Territory and I am against shooting the crocks because of it. If we go invading their territory then we must accept the consequences.
I find it an act of evil to treat any animal with cruelty and clearly making bears and other animals perform unnatural tricks is cruel. Our laws are not adequate enough to protect them and even when [...]
Read the full comment someone is caught being curel to an animal they are not punished enough.
We have to boycott these horror shows. That's the only way to stop it. If they don't get patrons, they will not have any use for the animals.
Peggy - yes, I agree that "free to roam" is by far the best zoo formula, even if we humans have to drive through in sealed buses.
There was an interesting event in South Africa in today's papers: a couple were carefully driving through a zoo reserve in South Africa (quite properly and correctly), when a lioness opened the rear door of their car by using her claw on the door handle rather cleverly (i.e. she didn't open it by brute force).
The shocked couple drove off rather quickly - pursued by [...]
Read the full comment the lioness - but luckily it was all filmed from the car behind.
No injuries, either to people or to lioness. But a fun episode
Koine - I agree that keeping animals in cirucses is cruel and I don't go to them.
Actually we have animal sanctuaries here which are wonderful. Animals are free to roam and are looked after well in them.
I don't condemn the entire nations for treating animals poorly but only the indivuduals who do that. There are cruel people all over the world. This is a huge failure of the human race.
Some zoos in Australia are not as good as others but we do have a very good one [...]
Read the full comment just on the outskirts of Melbourne where animals are not kept in cages but are rather free to raom. That's why we cannot get out of the busses which go through them.
Peggy - yes, I agree with you entirely. But what happens in Australian circuses and zoos with kangaroos, wallabies, koala bears, and their ilk ?
(I had heard that it is most dangerous to mess with a kangaroo, as they possess a lethal kick, but this may just be rumour, along with the strength of Australian beer.)
This is why animals attack!! People need to understand that wild animals are just that wild. no matter how much you "train" a wild animal like a bear its natural instincts are gonna come out. I have no sympathy for those who got mauled. I feel they deserve what they got. They are the ones who dressed this bear up, forced to it walk up right with ice skates on no less and bat around a puck. Just like people a animal can only take so much abuse. These people make me sick!!!
I thought that we, as human beings, have evolved since the cave man.
Anyone who can treat innocent animals this way has no heart and no soul.
Anyone going to see this "circus" is just as evil because they condone and support this.
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
I'm sorry, but I'd like to see the bears playing ice hockey.
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
Bishkek is a bit of a "frontier town" where unpleasant things often happen (like shoot-outs in the local cafe or what passes for it), but the Czech Republic should be obeying EU rules, and Jihlava is not Bishkek (or in Czech: Jihlava neni Bishkek).
Frankly, it's appalling. I shouldn't really say this, but frankly I don't blame the bears for biting back.
A few wild animals - if properly treated - take to circus procedures relatively well, such as elephants, seals, dolphins, some (not all !) primates, and meerkats. Others, like bears [...]
Read the full comment or felines such as tigers, should be left in the wild or in one of the better zoos where they can roam around without being caged.