Zapashny justified himself for cruelty to tigers: he poured water on them

“The best way to pacify wild cats”

Edgard Zapashny responded to the indignation of haters who began to actively comment on video footage from one of his rehearsals. Animal rights activists said that the trainer uses inhumane methods: he beats the animals with sticks, pours water on them and fires fire extinguishers. To which the head of the Great Moscow Circus replied that special equipment such as water cannons, sticks and blank weapons have been used by trainers all over the world for hundreds of years. And there are no signs of cruelty to animals in these actions.

After the video of the beating of animals, complaints and angry letters flew to all authorities: the prosecutor’s office, the Investigative Committee, the mayor’s office. It is curious that the footage of the education of our little brothers in the building on Vernadsky Avenue was filmed and posted online by the circus employees themselves. And social activists did not remain indifferent to this “provocation.” They immediately raised the hype, but embarrassing Edgard Zapashny is not an easy task.

“I myself have been watching footage from my brother and I’s rehearsals for many years, and we have never hidden our methods of working with predators,” he says. – All this is part of our profession. These are the best ways to pacify animals. When tigers start fighting among themselves, you have to act quickly, otherwise one will cripple the other.

Tigers and lions, like other representatives of the cat family, do not like water very much. After watering the predators, it is always possible to drive them into the cage. At the same time, they remain safe and sound. For his own protection, the trainer can use a metal stand, lift it and hold it in front of him. Then the predator will not touch him. But if the animals themselves are fighting, no bollards will help. Just a cold shower and a long metal stick that will cool the ardor of any beast.

“The basis of training is animal psychology, keeping the animal’s attention, feeding it and encouraging it,” notes Askold Zapashny. “But we must not forget that we are dealing with very dangerous predators.” It is not always possible to stand between two cats and “separate” them.