A picture worth a thousand bear stories

Thank you to Benson Cowan for sending this photo in.I tried to find a source, but ended up in an endless loop of photos that look like they are from an old photo album belonging to Ransom Riggs.I'd love to hear the story behind the photo. I know that captive bears were regularly declawed. Given that the woman is wearing a nightie, this one must be too. I imagine they are part of a circus.