Meet the fabulous felines that make audiences roar with delight.
Tigers and leopards are known as "big cats." They are members of the felid family, a category that includes 36 species of mammals ranging from the lion, leopard and jaguar to the common house cat.
     The big cats showcased at Ringling Bros. have a relationship with their trainers based on mutual trust, respect and affection. However, our trainers never forget that these animals are incredibly strong and fierce. For this reason, the big cats are always held with a restraint or perform behind a barrier.

Yipes, stripes! The terrific tiger.
The tiger is one of the largest predators in the world – and one of the rarest. Due to the beauty of its coat and loss of its habitat, the tiger has become an endangered species. Tigers once roamed from Russia to the Indian Ocean, and across to the Far East, but are now only found in small pockets of Nepal, China, Iran, Korea, Sumatra, Java and Bangladesh.
     There are five living subspecies of tigers: Siberian, South China, Indochinese, Bengal and Sumatran. Each name also describes its geographic origin. The Greatest Show On Earth® features Bengal tigers in four color phases ranging from white to orange, striped in black.
      Tigers can live in almost any climate; they require only shade, water and food. They prefer to hunt for food at night then bring down their prey with a swipe of their powerful forelegs and sharp claws.

Spotted at the circus: the stealthy leopard.
The leopard is one of the largest members of the felid family, after the lion and tiger. Leopards are differentiated from most other members of the cat family by the rosette-shaped markings all over their bodies. Leopards can live in a variety of habitats and are found in Asia, Africa and occasionally in Southern Europe.
      Graceful, alert and cunning, leopards are carnivores and good climbers that often drop down on unsuspecting prey from a tree branch. Strong for its size, the leopard will then drag its kill up into the tree for safekeeping.