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| A caged Siberian tiger at the Chinese Prosperous Nation Circus Troupe while in Dongguan (AFP Photo/NICOLAS ASFOURI) |
A crowd of just 10 people watched the endangered Siberian tiger roar on command on his hind legs and pounce through hoops inside the big top of the Chinese Prosperous Nation Circus Troupe.
Lions and a
young bear with a wound on its snout followed, performing tricks for the few
who braved the sweltering heat in southern Guangdong province to help keep the
travelling circus going for another day.
The use of
wild animals in circus shows has come under growing criticism around the world,
with some countries banning the practice, but for the Chinese troupe, the
beasts are considered a major attraction.
"Many
Chinese live in big cities where it's hard to get out into the wilderness. We
bring nature to them," Li Weisheng, the troup's manager, told AFP.
Circuses
have a long history in China. Called "maxi", pronounced
"mah-shi" meaning "stunts on a horse", they have a history
going back more than 2,500 years and would often pair acrobatic performances
with stunts on galloping horses.
The use of large cats, monkeys and bears is a more recent practice.
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A Harbin
black bear performs at the Chinese Prosperous Nation Circus Troupe,
which considers its animals a major attraction (AFP Photo/NICOLAS ASFOURI)
|
The use of large cats, monkeys and bears is a more recent practice.
China has
some of the world's laxest animal rights laws, and campaigners have long called
for tougher regulations on the treatment of animals in travelling circuses.
The two
owners of the troupe, Li Rongrong and Li Ruisheng, were arrested in 2016 for
illegally transporting rare and endangered animals and sentenced to 10 and
eight years in prison, respectively, but were cleared of all charges at a
second trial last year.
The
troupe's animals -- two African lions, a two-year-old black bear, a pack of
dogs and the tiger -- spend most of their time in tiny metal cages under a big
tent.
The animals
are a major draw, Li, the manager, said, standing next to the red and white
striped tent in the city of Dongguan, although he admitted attendance has
dropped in recent years.
The tiger
and a lioness with a cut tail -- both about a year old -- share one cage, in
which they restlessly pace around each other. A few times a day, they are
allowed to play in the circus ring.
The lone bear grasped the top bars of his cage and swung his body back and forth.
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The members
of the Chinese Prosperous Nation Circus Troupe say they will do what
they have
to do to keep their tradition alive, despite falling attendances (AFP
Photo/
NICOLAS ASFOURI)
|
The lone bear grasped the top bars of his cage and swung his body back and forth.
In the past
few years, multiple videos have emerged of apparent animal abuse in China, such
as a circus tying down a Siberian tiger for audience members to sit on for
photos, which sparked widespread outrage.
Chinese
people are increasingly calling for better protection for captive animals.
The members
of the Chinese Prosperous Nation Circus Troupe, however, say they will do what
they have to to keep their tradition alive and insist they are working in the
interests both of the public and the animals.
"We
are helping the public learn more about nature and animals," said Li.
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