THE BALLOON MAN

Meet the Big Cat Trainer at Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus

 

Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus Presents Dragon 
 Photo credit:  Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus
Ella Batalon, LA Photojournalist Examiner
from:  Los Angeles Examiner
July 3, 2012
The greatest show on Earth begins on Wednesday, July 11, with "Dragons" at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Along with your ticket purchase visitors will have the opportunity to go back stage in the arena before the show and meet all the animals and performers.

One notable performer is "The Big Cat Trainer and Presenter", Alexander Lacey, with his rare and unique show of two different big cat breeds—lions and tigers performing together in one arena.
Although Ringling Brothers have their own big cats, Lacey uses his own cats for his special type of show. All the lions and tigers performing with him in the arena have been bred and raised at his family's breeding program in England.
Alexander Lacey grew up on a not-so-typical English farm. His parents once owned two zoos, their own circus and a breeding program for rare big cats. Lacey and his two younger brothers grew up with lion cubs, tiger cubs, bear cubs and baby chimpanzees as playmates.
read more at:
http://www.examiner.com/article/meet-the-big-cat-trainer-at-ringling-brothers-barnum-and-bailey-circus