Tichonow's act on Circus Jaroslaw

Wade

Here are two photos of Tichonow's act with wisents, tigers, cheetah, and dog on Circus Jaroslawl (USSR).

The photos are from a paper by the late Dr. Erna Mohr of Hamburg dated April 4, 1967, entitled, "Spielbereitschaft beim Wisent," which I think means something like "training disposition of the wisent." It was published in Sonderdruck Z. F. Säugertierkunde (1968). I think that means Special Edition of the Journal of Mammals and Zoology" (1968)

Dr Erna Mohr was a distinguished German zoologist who did as much as anyone to preserve and protect from extinction the wisent or European bison. In fact she was the first to compile a studbook for any animal, namely the wisent. I am pleased to say that I enjoyed correspondence with her in the 1960s. She sent me her paper with these photos.

Richard

In the photo below it looks like they are doing a figure 8 around the seated animals. I would assume the Trainer is to the right off camera pushing the Wisent, putting himself between them and the tigers, and has an assistant(eye candy) in front to turn them also off camera on the right side. The photo above is not so much an attempt at a group shot, but a placement of Tichonow between the "predators and prey. He should have used maybe a Rhodesian Ridge back, instead of that candy poodle. LOL
Great, great stuff Richard. What would it cost for me to have you make a couple of "guest appearances" a couple of time's a week, with your priceless archive? You ever right a book documenting your material, I want to be first in line