The mother tiger with one of her cubs yesterday. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

As circus workers propped up a round iron cage that will host three Colombian daredevils and their motorbikes, the clanging was interrupted by baby-like whines.

Six tiger cubs turned and twisted in the hay under the watchful eyes of their mothers. They had been born on their way to Malta.

It was only after the authorities certified the cubs were well that the media was yesterday allowed to visit them.

And as a photographer approached the cage, the more adventurous of the litter crawled towards the bars only to be picked up from his head by the mother and drawn back into the inner part of the cage.

The mother then flicked hay on to her cubs as if trying to hide them from the prying eyes of the curious photographer and a nosy journalist.

Born in captivity, the cubs will live their lives behind bars, travelling with the circus troupe and performing in front of big crowds.

The birth is bound to add fuel to the controversy surrounding animal circuses as campaigners decry what they describe as the cruelty of forcing wild animals to perform unnatural acts.

But for Marcello Marchetti, who is the master of ceremonies, a circus bereft of animals is no circus at all. “It will become a simple variety show.”

An affable man, who dons the costume of a clown to woo the crowds between one act and another, Mr Marchetti said the animals were co-workers. “We respect them because they are family to us,” he said, explaining that circus life was a traditional culture that went back hundreds of years.

The Viviana Orfei circus, which will be at Manoel Island until January 5, is made up of 65 artistes, many in their fourth generation of circus life.

Mr Marchetti said all the wild animals were born in captivity from parents themselves descendents of others born and bred in captivity.

“It is true they are in cages but they know no better and we treat them well, otherwise the tigers would not be having cubs,” he said.

Ettore Webber, the tiger trainer, insisted there was no cruelty involved as tigers were taught what to do in front of the crowds.

He uses morsels of meat to reward his “friends” at every turn.

“Just like you would train a dog,” he said, adding the whip was only used to signal directions.

“You cannot use violence against animals like these because they will react and if a tiger attacks there is no stopping it,” Mr Webber explained.

Circus promoter Silvio Zammit thanked the authorities for cutting red tape and not putting spokes in the wheels but lamented the proposal to ban animal circuses.

He believes banning animal circuses is unfair on those families who cannot afford to take their children abroad to see animals in a zoo.

“I am obviously in on this to make money but it gives these families an opportunity to see live exotic animals at least once a year.”

The circus opens tomorrow and although the birth of tiger cubs has created a tender moment, it is unlikely to allay the controversy.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com