Is this the great thing we call tourism?

Horrifying footage of a pack of circus lions turning on their trainer has been shot by an American family while on holiday in the Ukraine. The video, shows a lion lunging suddenly towards his trainer with another lion pouncing moments after. The trainer can be seen approaching one of the five lions in the performance with a steel rod, to which the lion reacted by lunging at a guy, pushing him to the ground. A second lion joins in the attack, while other handlers try to disperse the lions from mauling the man. He regained his footing briefly, with blood dripping from his leg and arm, while the panicked crowd is seen and heard rushing to escape the horror. The lion again lunges at the trainer and at one point almost breaks through the flimsy netting protecting spectators.

"Kids are screaming, and kids are only 10 feet away “ "You have a handler from outside poking through the net, and then there's one inside who almost gets eaten. But the lions are after the trainer."

"I was just grabbing my daughter and trying to run because I thought that they were going to come out,"

"I've seen some great circus performances there, but my son said he does not want to go to the circus ever again".
The victim was reportedly taken to hospital for emergency surgery and is currently in a stable condition

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/world/circus-lions-savage-trainer-in-ukraine-20101005-
165ve.html


I might be naïve but I thought tourism is there for amusement, there are uncountable ways to amuse somebody or to create a show for amusement. Having fun or being impressed by a show should not mean keeping wild animals in hostage and trying to treat them like they’re some kind of pets. Teaching them to do stunts just the way like you would learn your dog and force them to do tricks.
You absolutely have to keep in mind these animals are actually wild animals, not created to live in prison and to be some kind of attraction.
Going to shows like this, in my eyes is not a good example for kids, they should learn and understand there are different sorts of animals: Pets & wild animals. Seeing a show were wild animals are treated like pets are not exactly easy for them to understand. Why would you let them see man playing with lions and let them doing tricks. And at the same time telling them that those animals are not the same as a housedog or housecat, that they are predators.

Keeping wild animals in hostage and force them to do tricks… I just can’t approve this, really there is no way for me to be ok with all of this. This is not how nature meant it to be. Seen this was a big news fact I have to say, the only thing which surprised me is the fact that we don’t get more of this in the news.

My conclusion is that you CAN have fun by doing things, meanwhile not harming anything or anyone. I have no intention being negative about all circuses, but there are better ways.. for example the shows of ‘Cirque the Soleil’ so much better, no caught animals just great spectacles performed by amazing artists. Worthy the money you pay as fee rather than supporting predators being held caught.