To me, an awed gasp from the crowd is explainable, and likely unavoidable. Gasping is instinctive and uncontrollable. But every time the crowd applauds, I just cringe. That behavior is certainly controllable, and it's clearly disruptive to some of the bears -- especially the youngest and most timid bears, who are already at a competitive disadvantage. Moreover, I worry that the applause reduces the bears to entertainment. The Brooks bears aren't circus acts; they're wild animals, and we have the extraordinary privilege of viewing them in their natural habitat. They don't need our applause; they certainly deserve our respect.
yes
yes