A shocking footage that's going viral shows a tigress collapsing while convulsing in a circus ring seconds after jumping through rings of fire.
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According to reports, the six-year-old big cat, called Zena, was part of a show being led by brother-sister duo Artur and Karina Bagdasarov at the circus in Magnitogorsk, Russia.
In the video, the?Handler, fearing other tigers would instinctively attack it, is seen trying to drag the struggling Siberian tigress away by the tail and others throw buckets of water?
"Artur did his best to bring Zena back to her senses and he did all the right things - he touched her reflexive zones, he poured water on her."
"The main thing was to stop other animals from attacking. For them a weak animal is a target, it is an order to kill,"?Karina Bagdasarov told #mce_temp_url#Mail Online.
Ever since the video started doing the rounds on social media, the animal handlers have been accused of animal cruelty, but they have defended themselves saying that was the only way to control the situation.
Artur said that he had shouted for the music and microphones be turned off during Zena's fit.
No matter what their justifications are, the fact that animals are still put through this hell is sickening. Tigers do not belong in circuses in the first place. They are now on the endangered list and to treat this majestic animal in this manner is utterly shameful.