Jordan World Circus comes to Mt. Pleasant
By SUSAN FIELD
from: themorningsun.com
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Emma Paradise hopped on Vicky’s back like an expert Sunday at Finch Fieldhouse on the campus of Central Michigan University.
Emma, 8, of Ithaca had been on an elephant ride before, at an orchard near Greenville.
Vicky, a 38-year-old Asian elephant, was a popular attraction at the Jordan World Circus, which performed twice at CMU Sunday.
William Morris of Tampa, Fla., is Vicky’s trainer.
He also works with two other elephants in the Las Vegas-based Jordan World Circus.
Morris has been with Vicky since she was 4 years old.
As people started filing into Finch to be seated, and get face paintings, Sno-cones, popcorn and other treats, Morris was walking with Vicky while children and their parents lined up for rides.
When Vicky isn’t giving rides, she performs in the circus, and one of her favorite tricks is standing on her hind legs, Morris said.
That isn’t the easiest of tasks for Vicky, who weighs a bit more than 8,000 pounds.
Morris, who is the fourth generation in his family to train elephants, said Vicky’s favorite treat is apples, and that she eats fruits and vegetables, hay and grain. While Morris was waiting for people to get in line for rides, his 3 1/2-year-old son, Austin, took a ride on Vicky.
Austin has been riding elephants since he was 1, Morris said.
“He loves it,” he said.
The circus included an aerialist, lions and tigers, daredevils, clowns and bears.
Emma, 8, of Ithaca had been on an elephant ride before, at an orchard near Greenville.
Vicky, a 38-year-old Asian elephant, was a popular attraction at the Jordan World Circus, which performed twice at CMU Sunday.
William Morris of Tampa, Fla., is Vicky’s trainer.
He also works with two other elephants in the Las Vegas-based Jordan World Circus.
Morris has been with Vicky since she was 4 years old.
As people started filing into Finch to be seated, and get face paintings, Sno-cones, popcorn and other treats, Morris was walking with Vicky while children and their parents lined up for rides.
When Vicky isn’t giving rides, she performs in the circus, and one of her favorite tricks is standing on her hind legs, Morris said.
That isn’t the easiest of tasks for Vicky, who weighs a bit more than 8,000 pounds.
Morris, who is the fourth generation in his family to train elephants, said Vicky’s favorite treat is apples, and that she eats fruits and vegetables, hay and grain. While Morris was waiting for people to get in line for rides, his 3 1/2-year-old son, Austin, took a ride on Vicky.
Austin has been riding elephants since he was 1, Morris said.
“He loves it,” he said.
The circus included an aerialist, lions and tigers, daredevils, clowns and bears.
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