Endangered Polar Bears Forced to Perform Degrading Acts in A Russian Circus

We have all heard of elephants, tigers and brown bears being tortured from a young age and used as circus props. But this travelling circus in Russia takes it to a whole new level, using endangered polar bears and forcing them to do various tricks and acts in front of an audience, and wait till you hear about what the owners have to say!

The Ivanovo travelling circus, run by a couple, Yulia Khokhlov and Yuriy Denisenko, has four captive polar bears - Dora, Motya, Umlea, and Knopka. They are all females and are 14 years of age and have been in the couple’s care since they were cubs.

Forced from a young age to be submissive and perform hideous acts, these bears have never known what it felt like to roam millions of acres in the wild Arctic. They have only known years of misery and humiliation as they are stripped of everything that is natural to them in the name of entertainment.

These two animal “trainers” have travelled all across Russia and Eastern Europe, performing various stunts for a wide variety of different audiences. They have even been featured to perform at the Bolshoi Circus in Moscow in 2014.

During one of their circus acts, audiences saw one of the polar bears roaring into a microphone with a wired muzzle while standing on their hind legs. This posture is not instinctive of these animals.

Other routines include the polar bears dancing, ice skating and even playing football, all of which are unnatural to these majestic beasts.

In another performance, Yuriy Denisenko makes one of the polar bears lay down on its back while she places her hand right next to its mouth to show her dominance over the animals. The polar bear of course, also has its mouth wired shut by the muzzle.

This act also made the trip to Sochi to perform during the Winter Olympics. During an interview then, Mrs. Denisenko openly discussed the often violent regime she implemented to train the polar bears, including “breaking” their spirits when they are young, stating that it is necessary in order for them to become submissive.

“First of all, these animals do not instinctively walk on their hind legs. Secondly, polar bears are not very gregarious. So it is difficult for them to stay together under artificial conditions.”

She also added that “in nature, these animals can easily kill a seal with one blow of their forepaws. Therefore, it is necessary to give back blow for blow immediately when they are young. Then, when they are older, they will give up this instinctive activity.”

However, in 2016, the couple tried to justify their actions by claiming they were saving the polar bears from drying due to climate change. They changed their story and denied any mistreatment to their animals and insisted that the polar bears were happy to perform those acts.

Yuriy Denisenko said that “when an animal is in the circus, it grows in specially created conditions. They are fed, washed and cared for.” The couple also said they treated the bears “like their own children”.

“A polar bear is an animal who you cannot punish. You can work with them only with love and care. We treat them like our children.” This statement she made was very different from the ones she openly admitted a few years before.

The couple’s circus act has received international backlash but is still allowed to continue performing despite protests from many organizations including PETA.

Awareness is key. Share this article, share the petitions and raise awareness on why circus acts like this, or any circus that uses animals as props should not be tolerated.