From Don Covington #2

Irina Bugramova, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hi Buckles, The Russian photo site RIANOVOSTI is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of animal trainer Irina Bugramova with a photo tribute on their website. Ms. Bugramova began working big cats in 1929. She started with leopards, but soon transitioned to lions, which became her specialty. Soviet circuses placed her in a starring role from the 1930's to the 1970's. She was a sensation in the 1930's; hailed as the first Russian woman presenting big cats. Irina Bugramova died of a heart attack in 2001, at the age of 91.