Ringling Brothers Circus presented a Big Cat Care Clinic to 60 4th and 5th graders today from Lake Eola Charter School here in Orlando at the Amway Center. The clinic, which is presented by the big cat trainer Alexander Lacey, explains to the kids how Ringling takes care of the lions and tigers on tour with the show. Lacey showed the children how he trains, maintains, and cares for the animals with positive reinforcement, care, and love. After speaking with Lacey, I can tell he genuinely loves what he does.
Lacey is a native of England who grew up working in his parent’s zoo. The Lacey family has raised more than 11 generations of lions and nine generations of tigers and continues to develop methods to maintain the integrity of the various bloodlines within the cats’ lineages. Alexander Lacey has earned numerous awards and accolades, including “Best of the Best” at the Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, Silver Clown award in Monaco, and the Chapiteau de Crystal Award in France.
After the presentation of how Lacey trains the cats, he spent some time with the kids to answer questions. Lacey said that most of the questions are the same from town to town but sometimes a question throws him off guard. The questions ranged from “How many animals do you have?” and “Do you ever get nervous?” to “Do the people on the trapeze fly over the lions in the show?” Once the Q and A session was over, Ringling gave each child a stuffed tiger to remember this once in a lifetime opportunity!
Information about the show from Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® is proud to present LEGENDS! The brand new show plays the Amway Center in Orlando January 9-12, 2014. Experience unimaginable family fun as amazing performers from around the globe perform awe-inspiring feats of daring, spectacles of strength and thrills of wonder to summon the mythical and the mysterious: a Unicorn, a Pegasus and a Woolly Mammoth! Join us for an unforgettable family night of legendary proportions! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents LEGENDS!
FREE with ticket an hour before show time is the interactive All Access Pre-show. Families can become part of the circus on the arena floor such as learning juggling and balancing skills, meeting performers and the famous Ringling Bros. Clowns, whose side-splitting spoofs, absurd antics and comical parody are guaranteed to keep audiences roaring with laughter before the show even starts! Families will also be amazed as they watch up close one of Ringling Bros. majestic Asian elephant’s paint a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, which is given to one lucky audience member.
New this year to Ringling Bros. is the exclusive RINGMASTER’S ZONE! This once-in-a-lifetime family experience will grant exclusive access to a behind-the-scenes look at The Greatest Show On Earth! During this rare opportunity, families will be treated like a circus star, gain access to behind the scenes, meet the most revered circus stars in The Greatest Show On Earth, like the Ringmaster! Plus, get a special family photo on the Ringling Red Carpet with a circus star to commemorate this unforgettable experience! Tickets are limited to only 100 per show and can be combined with any seat level experience.
To see my exclusive interview with Lacey, click HERE
Ringling will be in town until Jan 12th! Come out and enjoy the show!!!
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