In Everett, the circus arrives and so do protests
JACKSON HOLTZ, The Herald of Everett
Sunday, September 4, 2011
EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — Carol is magnificent.An Asian elephant, she is massive, some 7,100 pounds and nearly 10 feet tall. She trumpets when her handler praises her. It's a noise that sounds a bit like a bird, high pitched, eerie, from another world. At 38, Carol's age shows in pink and gray freckles on her wide and dimpled forehead.
Along with Patty and Duchess, the giant creatures from Thailand are the pachyderm stars of "Boom a Ring," the latest Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to play at Comcast Arena. The show opens Thursday and runs through the weekend.
During the circus, Carol will defy her hulk and dance with the agility of a ballerina. The elephant will salute the audience with her long trunk, twirl in place, sit down and perform a headstand.
"The audience loves that," said Catherine Carden, Carol's handler and a seventh-generation circus performer.
She tours with her husband, Brett, also a multi-generational circus performer, and their children, George and Cash. The Cardens spend about 40 weeks a year traveling with the circus, shepherding a menagerie that includes two camels, three horses, two ponies, a mini pony and 10 dogs.
Still, no animal draws as much response -- good and bad -- as the family's three elephants.Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/In-Everett-the-circus-arrives-and-so-do-protests-2155378.php#ixzz1XAN5bQVT
Along with Patty and Duchess, the giant creatures from Thailand are the pachyderm stars of "Boom a Ring," the latest Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to play at Comcast Arena. The show opens Thursday and runs through the weekend.
During the circus, Carol will defy her hulk and dance with the agility of a ballerina. The elephant will salute the audience with her long trunk, twirl in place, sit down and perform a headstand.
"The audience loves that," said Catherine Carden, Carol's handler and a seventh-generation circus performer.
She tours with her husband, Brett, also a multi-generational circus performer, and their children, George and Cash. The Cardens spend about 40 weeks a year traveling with the circus, shepherding a menagerie that includes two camels, three horses, two ponies, a mini pony and 10 dogs.
Still, no animal draws as much response -- good and bad -- as the family's three elephants.Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/In-Everett-the-circus-arrives-and-so-do-protests-2155378.php#ixzz1XAN5bQVT
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