Valentin Filatov (Aug 12, 1920 – August 7, 1979) was a Soviet circus performer and animal trainer.
His father ran a circus and he worked there from the age of six.
He began training bears in 1944 and created the “Bear Circus” in 1949,[1] a popular show that featured bears doing unusual tricks, including riding motorbikes.
[2][3] Filatov performed all over the world with the bears, was featured on the Ed Sullivan show,[4] and was even commemorated on a Soviet postage stamp.
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