How a Guatemalan animal trainer became 'Artist of the Year' in Russia
Carlos is from Retalhuleu, Guatemala, a once major city of the Maya people. His father is a businessman, while his mother is a singer. Nothing connected his family to the circus. But, every summer, the big tent of a traveling circus would appear on the soccer field near his house.
"I spent whole days there, I knew how everything worked, I became friends with all the circus kids." His parents said it wasn't a serious pursuit, but the young man continued to dream of the circus and, when he turned 18, the troupe asked him to join.
"The life I could only dream of began!" At first, the Guatemalan was an assistant, later, he became a clown and then a gymnast. But, it turned out that he was best at working with animals.
His performances with tigers, lions and elephants began to be noticed by major circuses and he started getting invitations to tour in America, Africa and Europe.
From Latin America to Russia
"One day, I was in Romania and it was really bad there, they were barely paying us. After yet another 'the money will come tomorrow’, I fell to my knees and begged: 'Lord, please, give me a good contract in a good country!' And, suddenly, an email arrives: 'Hello, my name is Natalia, I've seen your videos. Would you like to work in Russia?' it said!"
He had never thought about Russia. He only knew it was a huge country and that there already were talented animal trainers there: Edgard and Askold Zapashny, Vitaly Smolyanets, Nikolay Pavlenko and many others.
However, Carlos sent his documents and, two months later, received a response that everything was arranged and he was expected at work. And even though his friends tried to talk him out of moving, saying Russia was dangerous – he went. And he hasn’t regretted it since.
A life on the move
Stona Milla, Carlos's wife, is a circus gymnast from Chile. The couple has two children: Noah Jesus, a 10-year-old son, and Stoinita Maria, an eight-year-old daughter, who was born just before they left for Russia.
Carlos, his wife and their children are constantly moving – circus people don't stay in one place for long, they crave something new.
"The kids say: 'Dad, we've been living here a while, when are we going to a new city?' Over the past three years, they have studied in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Stavropol, Perm, Nizhny Tagil – 15 cities, in total. For an ordinary child, changing schools every couple of months is strange, but my children are used to it."
The trainer treats the animals very carefully: "They travel comfortably; it's not some container with cages, but a large trailer-truck with a split-system air conditioner inside. I always drive the truck myself. When necessary, I stop, check on my guys, feed them, clean them. Today, I have 8 lions and 5 tigers. And they are also my family."
About animals and people
The Guatemalan admits: if other children grow up with cats and dogs, his kids grow up with tigers. When they were very little, they even slept together.
The universal favorite is the tigress named ‘Masha’. Her mother refused to feed her, so Carlos took her home. Until she was 6 months old, he played with her every morning, walked her and fed her from a bottle and then she started performing successfully in the tiger group.
Carlos says that every animal has its own character, just like people. Some are nervous, some are good-natured. But, there are also common traits: elephants are timid, yet very patient, zebras are temperamental, hippos are kind and giraffes are the sweetest of all.
But, the most difficult are lions. They find it hard to improvise; everything must be clear. At the same time, they are cunning and can manipulate a person. The main thing is to establish clear boundaries.
Carlos brought some animals with him to Russia, some were born here and some he took from zoos or from people who decided to get exotic cat, but couldn't handle raising them.
At first, Carlos worked in stationary circuses in the south of the country. Then, he moved to a big top and managed to travel all over Russia in six years.
"In August 2024, we were working in Kursk, holding charity concerts, despite needing to evacuate. And, for this, at the 'Priznanie' International Circus Awards in June 2025, I was given the 'Artist of the Year' award. I was so happy!"
How Russia changed the Guatemalan
The Latin American had to get used to the restraint of Russians. At first, he greeted everyone, even on buses. But, this "quirk" helped him make new friends.
"During the pandemic, my animals and I got stuck in Tambov. There were no performances, but they needed to be fed. And then, a man came to us, who turned out to be the owner of a local chain of stores. He talked with me and looked at my lions and tigers. And then, he brought us a ton of meat. And, in Russia, such an act is not something special; that's the Russian mentality!"
"I say always and everywhere: no one has done more for me than Russia, I'm glad I listened to God, who sent me here!" Carlos even has a tattoo of the Russian flag and the double-headed eagle. He admits – it's a mark of respect.
"I want to advise all foreigners: don't believe the bad things they say about Russia. Here is the most peaceful life, the most responsive people."
Carlos says he has embraced Russian culture; he understands the people, traditions, religion and politics. And he doesn't want to go back.
"In Guatemala, there is a proverb: 'A person knows exactly where they were born, but cannot predict where they will die.' But, I now know for sure that I want to spend my last day in Russia!"
The full version of the interview is available (in Russian) on the ‘Nation’ magazine’s website.