Circuses
Midjet hippoptamus in travelling circus
Comment
Some circuses have already begun to redefine themselves by eliminating outdated and exploitative animal acts just as they eliminated human "freak shows" years ago. Springing up in their place are creative and exciting all-human productions.
Animals used in circuses
The species most commonly found in circuses are; elephants, tigers, bears, lions, horses, ponies, dogs, various snakes and non-human primates (usually macaque monkeys or chimpanzees). Occasionally, zebras, giraffes, hippopotami, and camels can also be found in circuses.
Living conditions for the animals
The physical and practical constraints of the travelling circus environment result in animals being either chained or confined to transport cages or "beast wagons" at virtually all times when not performing. They have to defecate, urinate, eat, drink and sleep all in the same restricted area.
Exercise for the animals when they are performing
The animals get exercise only for a very short time each day, and only within the parameters of the routine they are performing. Apart from the limited time they are in the ring or on stage, performing animals live a life of extreme confinement and deprivation.
Abnormal behaviour
Most wild or non-domesticated animals retain a need to engage in their instinctive behaviour patterns. Prolonged confinement frustrates these behaviour patterns, and can lead to serious psychological distress and the development of abnormal – or "stereotypic" – behaviours. Abnormal aggression, apathy, self-mutilation, and stereotypic movements such as head-weaving, rocking from side to side, bar-licking and pacing are relatively common in performing animals, and are indicative of a deprived social and physical environment.
Life expectancy and quality of life
Although some animals may live longer lives in captivity, many do not. There have been at least 26 premature, unnatural deaths of elephants used in circuses since 1994.
In terms of quality of life, compare the existence of captive elephants to those left in the wild. Elephants in the wild live as long as 70 years, in large extended families with strong social bonds. Elephants have also been known to stay with their dead for hours, in what can only be described as a state of mourning, during which they will bury their dead under branches, grass and earth.
By contrast, elephants and other animals in circuses and travelling shows are deprived of all such experiences – instead they are made to perform demeaning and unnatural acts.
How are animals trained to perform?
Trainers dismiss suggestions that they mistreat the animals under their care, pointing to the fact that their animals represent a substantial financial investment, and abuse would jeopardize that investment. Moreover, they argue, it would be dangerous for trainers to abuse wild animals, along side whom they would later have to perform.
Abusive training or handling of animals in circuses
A non-performing animal is a liability. Therefore, if a large financial investment has been made and the animal does not perform, the trainer has a strong incentive to utilize harsher methods to "make" the animal perform.
Former animal trainers have and continue to come forward with shocking reports of animal abuse. In addition, abusive training and handling of animals in circuses has been well documented in reports and videos.
Education
It is doubtful that anything of value can be learned by watching elephants balancing on their heads, bears in tutus riding bicycles, or tigers jumping through flaming hoops. On the contrary, circuses present a distorted and misleading picture of wildlife, and do nothing to educate our children or help them to develop respectful or compassionate attitudes toward animals or other people.
Public safety jeopardized by performing animal acts
Animal incidents have become common occurrences in circuses.
Since 1990, at least 47 people have been killed and more than 100 seriously injured by captive elephants worldwide. Similarly, attacks by captive felines have resulted in at least 23 deaths and more than 70 injuries.