First female beast tamer of Middle East: Anosa Kouta
Anosa Kouta was born into a famous circus family that mastered taming wild animals since the 19th century. She is the first female beast tamer in the Middle East and she represents her country at international circus festivals.
NERMIN TARIQ
Cairo – When we see wild animals such as tigers, lions in a zoo, we are scared. But Anosa Kouta cares about these animals like they are cats. She has worked as a beast tamer in circuses for years. Anosa Kouta told us why she decided to work as a beast tamer. Her family is a famous circus family that mastered taming wild animals since the 19th century. She has represented her country at international circus festivals and received awards for her performance. “Raising, feeding, or taking care of lions is actually a characteristic I inherited from my family. I grew up in a family that loved raising lions. I will always remember how my grandmother Mahasin Al Helou and my father Medhat Kouta helped me. In fact, I was always with lions and realized that I could adapt and get along with them. I realized my skill when I was 18 years old.”
“Workers should be recognized as workers of the ministry”
Anosa Kouta works for a circus now and she thinks all workers of circuses should be recognized as workers of the ministry of culture. “I don’t do this job expecting any financial support. I just want this job to be recognized as an art. I never expect any payment for my job but I want a lot of people who work in circuses to have a guarantee,” Anosa Kouta said. Before working as a professional beast tamer, Anosa Kouta got training courses in Russia.
She understands wild animals
Anosa Kouta understands wild animals very well. “In one of my shows, I realized that one of my tigers caught a cold. I stopped the show and tried to take it out the stage but it is such a proud animal that it did not get off and got angry to show that it wanted to finish the show,” said Anosa Kouta , who thinks animals have a feeling of jealousy, even if it is not the same as what people have.
The youngest family member gets training
Anosa Kouta does this job since she was 18 years old and her family has tamed wild animals since the 19th century. Recently, the youngest family member, her sister, has gotten training to work in a circus as her family. She is currently in Russia.