THE BALLOON MAN

Shrine Circus to feature new record-size elephant and albino alligator in 2013

 

A Shrine Circus elephant performs during the 2010 Shrine Circus at Perani Arena in Flint
(Ryan Garza/The Flint Journal)
 File Photo
By Scott Atkinson
from: mlive.com
on January 15, 2013
BURTON, MI--The Shrine Circus has two new animals to show off this year.
Max Nelson, circus chair for Flint, said that this year's Shrine Circus will feature the largest Asian male performing elephant as well as a new alligator act that includes an albino gator.
Bo, the 25-year-old, 16,000-pound elephant, is a "very intelligent animal," Nelson said.
"He plays instruments and performs very well," Nelson said.
In the wild, Nelson said elephants typically only live to be about 25 years old. In captivity, however, they can live up to twice as long.
"They’re well taken care of," he said. "When you got that much money involved in an animal, you take care of it."

The albino alligator is about three feet long, and people can take pictures with it, Nelson said.
The circus will be performing at Perani Arena Jan. 16-21. For ticket information, go to Perani's website.