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Animal rights groups may have failed in their attempt to stop exotic animals being shipped to Bermuda to perform in the controversial show.

But organizers appeared to still be feeling the pressure from the negative publicity as they took every opportunity to reassure spectators how well their animals were treated.

“Despite what you've heard, we love our animals, we are here for the animals, we live for the animals,” the crowd at the animal extravaganza at St George’s was told.

Animal rights groups had voiced concerns about the lack of information about the treatment of animals in the show.

And the high police presence at the show on Saturday night added to the tension as officers did laps of the Big Top in bullet-proof vests.

It was as if everyone was waiting for something to happen, for the activists to make an appearance.

But there was no extra entertainment from the animal rights groups. They simply helped to sell more tickets for the DNA Entertainment Show — with the Bermuda public wanting to see what all the fuss was about.

The show itself wasn't so much an extravaganza than a selection of acts plucked together. A small selection of acts at that, as the same performers were brought out twice to kill time.

Some acts were also spoiled by technical problems as the crowd struggled to hear what was being said through faulty microphones.

The first act was Chalcy — the world’s so-called smartest dog — and trainer Kyra Sundance from Los Angeles. There was nothing remotely clever about this dog. Chalcy was in fact pretty disobedient and could have done with a few more weeks training.

Dog’s dinner

Okay, she could wave at the crowd when prompted, but that was just about her limit. Most of the time Chalcy simply stood when she was told to sit then proceeded to eat her treats when she hadn’t done anything to deserve them.

Next up was a traditional Texas cowgirl who twirled a piece of string around her body in several different directions.

And that was about the extent of her talents — nothing whatsoever to do with animals in a so-called animal ‘extravaganza’.

However, she did get the most laughs of the night when a Portuguese man who spoke very little English volunteered to help her. He failed to understand how stupid he would look as he followed her instructions to dress up as a cow and jump around the stage.

However, seeing 7ft tall bears weighing 750Ibs walking around the ring on their hind legs was a surreal sight.

Towering way above their trainers, the bears were led around on leads like they were poodles.

They had wrestling matches, pulled each other in a cart, rode motorbikes — and ripped up the carpet when they were told not to!

The bears looked like playful creatures until they began to strike out. The crowd was told their bad behaviour was because they were tired and grumpy.

Whatever the reason, the audience was relieved to safely be on the other side of the 10ft cage.

The grand finale featured five Royal Bengal tigers that sat on stools, leapt over each other, growled and posed for cameras.

The tigers even had terrified members of the crowd running from their seats as they stretched up against the safety cage on their hind legs.

But by the end of the two-hour show the children were the only ones clapping as the adults complained how expensive the night had been.

The money-grabbing event saw organizers repeatedly trying to entice parents to spend their money on the toys on sale. Never before has a simple balloon been given such a sales pitch.

The Bermuda public was certainly made to dig deep into their pockets — and their money could have been a lot better spent.[[In-content Ad]]

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