The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Circus companies rope in human artists to win back patrons

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Circus companies rope in human artists to win back patrons

Staff Reporter

Jamuna Circus importing Russian gymnasts on contract basis

BHUBANESWAR: When circus companies are first losing their sheen due to the depleting animal base, they have roped in human artists for their survival in an era of abundant options of entertainment.

Jamuna Circus, a 100-year-old company, which is currently running its shows here, relies on a number of reality shows sans animals. "After we lost many animals such as tigers and lion, the popularity of circus has been consistently waning. The introduction of human artists seems to be attracting spectators towards circus now," Charanjit Singh, manager of Jamuna Circus, said.

The Indian Government had forbidden training and exhibition of five species such as monkey, bear, tiger, lion and panther about a decade ago. Earlier the ratio between animals and artists was almost equal and now the proportion has undergone a sea change.

Jamuna Circus that boasted of 70 animals including tigers, lions, deer and elephants before the prohibition was clamped is now continuing with 25 animals. Moreover, except two elephants and four horses, there is no animal in the circus which could attract the crowd. Mr. Singh said the old circus company had raised its artists’ strength to 150. Most of the performing artists hail from Nepal. When the circus company sees chances of good business, it imports Russian gymnasts.

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