Threat of attacks don’t deter Egypt tiger tamer

Record ID: 83977

  • Title: Threat of attacks don’t deter Egypt tiger tamer
  • Date: 23rd October 2016
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (RECENT) (REUTERS) MAHASEN AL-HELW IN CIRCUS ARENA WHITE TIGERS BEING RELEASED TIGER GETTING ON PODIUM MAHASEN WITH TIGERS IN THE ARENA MAHASEN GETTING MEAT FOR THE TIGERS TWO TIGERS MAHASEN MAKING THE TIGERS DO TRICKS CAIRO, EGYPT (OCTOBER 19, 2016) (REUTERS) MAHASEN SITTING WHILE A LION CUB SITS AROUND HER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LION TAMER, MAHASEN AL-HELW, SAYING: "Because I love this animal and I want to understand its personality and how to deal with it and that's what I do in my shows and acts, which gives you the impression that the lions and tigers are just regular cats. That's the feedback that I like getting, when people tell me that they feel like I'm not dealing with a lion but rather a cat; and that's the message that I want to send, that even though it's predatory animal and very strong but with me it's just a friendly animal that obeys my commands." CAIRO, EGYPT (RECENT) (REUTERS) MAHASEN MAKING TIGERS GET INTO POSITION TIGERS AND LION ON PODIUM ALL TIGERS AND LION PAYING ATTENTION TO THE TAMER CAIRO, EGYPT (OCTOBER 19, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LION TAMER, MAHASEN AL-HELW, SAYING: "Nothing is impossible or hard, and that is why I took the decision and said that I have to do this, and find a way to deal with these animals by maybe getting closer to them. I found out that it all goes back to the personality of the animal and to finding a way to treat them different than the rest, just like one of your children, you raise them with the values you want to teach them and this is what I did with my tigers and lions. I'm glad that that's starting to be evident in my shows and pictures." CAIRO, EGYPT (RECENT) (REUTERS) LION JUMPING OVER MAHASEN LION SEEN INSIDE CAGE CAIRO, EGYPT (OCTOBER 19, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LION TAMER, MAHASEN AL-HELW, SAYING: "My strength is actually is in my small build and appearance that do not give off the impression that I could be a lion tamer, and not just that, but a trainer for some of the most dangerous animals including white tigers, and lions, and I'm probably the only one in Egypt who does this." CAIRO, EGYPT (RECENT) (REUTERS) MAHASEN HITTING WHITE TIGER MAHASEN LYING ON WHITE TIGER CAIRO, EGYPT (OCTOBER 19, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LION TAMER, MAHASEN AL-HELW, SAYING: "There isn't a human being who doesn't get scared, but for me it's hard to get scared of my children. On the contrary I can't imagine my life without them. This is just my point of view, disregarding how any other trainer sees their lions. It's just that because of all the interactions I've had with these animals, it's become easy to be with them even, if they're predatory which I knew from the day I started. I see it otherwise; those predatory animals with me become very calm." LION CUB SITTING ON MAHASEN'S LAP MAHASEN PATTING LION CUB LION CUB PLAYING AROUND WITH MAHASEN VARIOUS OF LION CUB PLAYING WITH PLASTIC BOTTLE
  • Embargoed: 7th November 2016 10:44
  • Keywords: Egypt tamer wild aninals lions tigers
  • Location: CAIRO, EGYPT
  • City: CAIRO, EGYPT
  • Country: Egypt
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015584QQD
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Spending time behind bars is all in a day's work for Egyptian animal trainer Mahasen al-Helw.
    An international law graduate, Mahasen has dedicated her career to taming and training predatory animals.
    Mahasen performs a show six days a week at Cairo's iconic National Circus -- following in the footsteps of her father and grandmother.
    But it's a risky business, as Mahasen is all too familiar with. Both her father and grandmother have been attacked more than once by the animals that they have tamed.
    Her grandmother was attacked in front of an audience.
    Despite the threat of being mauled by one of the animals, Mahasen remains fearless.
    "Because I love this animal and I want to understand its personality and how to deal with it and that's what I do in my shows and acts, which gives you the impression that the lions and tigers are just regular cats. That's the feedback that I like getting, when people tell me that they feel like I'm not dealing with a lion but rather a cat; and that's the message that I want to send, that even though it's predatory animal and very strong but with me it's just a friendly animal that obeys my commands,'' she said.
    Mahasen works with a variety of rare animals including white tigers.
    Her show is comprised of two white tigers, two African lions, a white lion, three African lionesses and two Siberian tigers.
    "Nothing is impossible or hard, and that is why I took the decision and said that I have to do this, and find a way to deal with these animals by maybe getting closer to them. I found out that it all goes back to the personality of the animal and to finding a way to treat them different than the rest, just like one of your children, you raise them with the values you want to teach them and this is what I did with my tigers and lions. I'm glad that that's starting to be evident in my shows and pictures' 'she said in her home, which she shares with a lion cub.
    The Egyptian lion tamer attributed her petite frame as one of her main strengths and believes she is the only woman of her age who does such a job in the country.
    Some of the animals spend up to four months living with Mahasen at her home on the outskirts of the Egyptian capital before being rehoused at the circus.
    The young wild animal tamer has been recognised for her talents and has won a number of awards including 'Best Circus Artist in 2016' award at Russia's "The Master" festival.
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