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Contemplating the cage: A moment with a circus tiger

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A majestic tiger with the World Famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is viewed by a small group of children from The Shade Tree shelter on Thursday, June 11, 2015.
Photo: L.E. Baskow

Circus Elephants and Shade Tree Kids

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Demo | Thomas & Mack Center Parking Lot | June 11, 2015 | 10:55 A.M.

Capturing the experience of children from the Shade Tree shelter up close with circus elephants and tigers, I find myself drawn in by the animals as well. I can see they are well cared for, with plenty of food and expert handling, though I still wonder if they would be better off living in the wild. I catch a tiger’s eye peering between the bars designed for our safety and wonder what he feels, if he’s sad or content. It’s possible this is all he knows. I appreciate his power and majesty, and I can picture him and the others running free across a vast savannah, living as a pride.

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