Gold Unit (From Don Covington)

TIFTON GAZETTE TIFTON, GEORGIA Ringling Bros. circus makes brief rest stop March 22, 2009 12:43 am — TIFTON � Stars of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus are in town, but shhh � they�re resting. Some members of the Gold unit of Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus - including six white Bengal tigers and three Asian elephants - arrived in Tifton Thursday night. Production manager Jason Gibson was the only person stirring at the camp site Friday afternoon. The tigers' trainer, Vicenta Pages, and the elephants' trainer, Ramon Equeda, couldn't be interviewed, Gibson said, because they were resting. "I'm on duty all the time," Gibson said with a smile. Gibson, who's worked for Ringling Brothers for 12 years, �wouldn't have it any other way. The ex-soldier who calls Lake Arrowhead in southern California home, after giving it some thought, said he loves his nomadic life and the career he's chosen. "I love being on the road and meeting people every day," Gibson said. "It's so much fun to entertain people for�a living." But there's a process leading to the professional productions people, young and old, have enjoyed under the big tent and elsewhere for well over 100 years. Gibbs said his military training gave him the discipline he needs to ensure the operation is smooth. He enjoys being the calm mentor, he said, and helping his staff uncover the best solutions. Gibbs said the tigers, sleeping in cages, and the elephants, quietly milling around and eating under a large awning, arrived by boat in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday after making the trip from Puerto Rico. There they met Gibbs, Pages, Equeda and a few more members of the staff. The animals were loaded �into tractor trailers for transport to Tifton. Monday, it's hit the road again for shows next week in Augusta. Gibbs said the show opened in San Juan then went on to Ponce and finally to Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The group stayed in each city for a week. "We had shows in 150 cities and logged in 27,000 miles last year," Gibbs said. "This is their play time," Gibson said, as he introduced the three female Asian elephants � Susie, 43, Minnie, 45, and Bunnie, 47. Each elephant, Gibbs said, weighs approximately 7,000 pounds and eats 150 pounds of hay, grains, fruits and vegetables each day. "We've had animals at Barnum and Bailey for 139 years," Gibbs said. Gibbs said the animals' trainers determines the natural abilities and peculiarities of each animal and train around them. If a particular elephant enjoys sitting, for instance, Gibbs said its trainer would incorporate that into the act. "The bond between them is just amazing," Gibbs said. On the other side of the campsite were the six white Bengal tigers, a mix of males and females. The cats were napping in cages and fresh chicken waited for them on a picnic table. The tigers can weight over 500 pounds. One of the ones snoozing at the Agrirama Friday was 8-year-old male Taurus. He had a thick padded paw that, relaxed, measured at least six inches across. Gibbs said the animals have access to a veterinarian around the clock. Gibbs, who rode the circus' train for 10 years, said he is looking forward to the show's October tour in Europe. "It has been an amazing adventure," Gibbs said. "I'm lucky to be able to travel."