Due to concerns over animal welfare, Germany's Roncalli Circus stopped using lions and elephants in its shows in 1991
Spectators of the Roncalli Circus Show look at a hologram projection during a show in Luebeck, northern Germany.
Image: Axel Heimken / AFP
The smell of sawdust and popcorn fills the air. The clowns, acrobats and magicians are all in place.
As the audience are guided to their seats inside the big top, all the classic elements of the circus are there -- except one. The live animals have been replaced by holograms.
Due to concerns over animal welfare, Germany's Roncalli circus stopped using lions and elephants in its shows in 1991.
But it went further in 2018 and completely removed live animals from its programme.
"It is no longer appropriate for Roncalli to show real animals in the ring," circus boss Patrick Philadelphia, 49, told AFP.