Once upon a time, there was a small circus with a rather old lion, a rather small elephant and a large one, a giraffe, a few aurochs, a donkey, a camel, a few goats, a friendly clown named Felice, and a circus director named Kohlschnauz. But one day, Kohlschnauz was gone, along with the not-so-well-filled circus treasury. The animals became frightened, as they wondered who would provide them with work and food now. They excitedly discussed what they could do. Everyone talked over each other and insulted one another as donkeys, oxen, camels, or goats – which they indeed were. Even Felice's brother Dr. Tristan, a veterinarian in Munkefanz, to whom they desperately turned for help, did not know how to get them through the winter. So the animals decided to help themselves.