Circus focuses on human talent

No roaring tigers, no ring masters, no pranky chimpanzee or caged cheetah. Circus is no more about wild stunts of these star performers

With a ban on the use of wild animals, the oldest entertainment medium is trying to reinvent itself. Replacing the wild animals are acrobats and stunts, which keep alive the tradition, which is as old as the Roman period.

Thankfully, the ban on animals has not led to the death of the means of entertainment. But it has pinched the circus managers hard.

Says Balagopalan, MD of a circus troupe: “The ban on performance of wild animals has badly affected popularity of circus. The animals were the performing stars and attracted audience. We are now pushed to the wall by the Union government order.”

“We used to have lions, chimpanzees, orangutans and tigers. Most of the people used to throng circus especially to see performance of these wild animals. But after the ban, people have lost interest,” he contends.

Now, it is only the display of exotic birds, elephants, camels, horses, and dogs. However, the managers are accommodating new items, which include more of acrobatics and stunts. It is because of this that artists from nations like Russia and China are still part of the entourage.

Juggling, one of the common acts, has not grown old in these years. Neither have the clowns.