Foreign acrobats fill the gap

Bipin Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 11

Acrobats, especially from foreign countries, have virtually filled the vacuum caused in Indian circuses across the country following the ban on display of exotic animals and birds by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest in 1998.

The notification issued by the ministry barring display and performance of five animals — lion, tiger, leopard, bear and monkey — in Indian circuses not only brought great relief for wild animals, forced to perform in the circuses, but was also a setback to over 130-year-old Indian circus industry.

Coming down heavily on the industry, the government even seized a number of wild animals, covered under Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act, forcing the organisers to look out for suitable alternatives.

Owners of the Indian circuses came up with an innovative idea and roped in acrobats, gymnasts, candle balancers from Russia, Tanzania, China and other countries to perform, replacing the wild animals.

The foreigners who earlier used to perform in circuses in their own and other countries now began migrating to India to perform in the 25 circuses to earn their livelihood.

A Ukrainian family – Aloexandr (42) his wife Victoria, daughter Karina (13) and son Illua (10) who are accompanying the Asiad Circus and will perform brick- balancing, anaconda and ring dances, gymnastics and several other events, at the Exhibition Ground, Sector 34, Chandigarh, in the next one month.

Sunil Goyal Billa, circus manager, said that the acrobats, gymnasts, candle balancers from foreign countries had managed to fill the gap created after the government enforced the ban on the display and performance of wild animals in the circuses, to a large extant.

When asked if the Ukrainian family was carrying legal passports, VISA and other mandatory documents relating to their visit to India, especially, Punjab and Chandigarh, Idris Sayani, circus executive member, claimed to have made all necessary communications to the Punjab Government and the Chandigarh Administration in this regard.

They also claimed to have obtained all required permission from the UT Administration and the Chief Wildlife Warden, Chandigarh.

For the first time, three motorcycles will perform together in a death-cage apart from several performances by elephants, horses and dogs. Australian parrots will be an attraction of the show, they added.

Talking to The Tribune, Aloexandr claimed that he was in India along with his family on a work permit, as performing in circuses was their main profession.

“We have signed a contract with Mohammad Shamshad, a Delhi-based contractor, who associated us with the Asiad Circus. Earlier, we performed in Fazilka in Punjab for a month and now will entertain Chandigarhians,” claimed Aloexandr.