The Circus
PETA (People for the Ethical treatment for Animals ) states "In contrast to the glitter associated with circuses, performing animals' lives are pretty miserable. Because animals do not naturally ride bicycles, stand on their heads, or jump through rings of fire, whips, electric prods, and other tools are often used to force them to perform."
One of the most well know circuses, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, been publically humiliated and questioned about their on going, documented abuse towards animals in their circus. PETA has created a wonderful website just for issues like this. www.circuses.com. Ringling Bro. has been sited many times, 65 acts (may be more now) acts of noncompliance with the AWA, Animal Welfare Act.
Animals used in entertainment, sometimes show aggressive behaviors. Sometimes the animal get shot to death, to stop its rampage, and sometimes a human gets killed. This has to do with the way the animals react to the 'un-natural' way they are treated and forced to live.
Elephants are controlled by an instrument, which is called a 'bullhook'. The elephant is poked and proded in the sensitive areas of it's body, like around the eyes and behing the ears and knees, to be manipulated to act unnaturally. And I cannot imagine a lion or tiger, willingly would seek out, then jump through a ring of fire. I guess the whips that are used, seem to scare them more than the fire. Henry Ringlings North stated; "...animals work from fear." - from 'Circus Kings'
The IDA ( In Defense of Animals ) states: "The animals are unwilling participants in a show that jeopardizes their health, their mental well-being and their lives."
The Animal Defenders states: "As long as animals are forced to perform tricks and routines then whatever force "necessary" will be employed to enforce them. The ADs (Animal Defenders) have filmed animals being beaten about the faces and bodies to make them pirouette" and "The use of animals in circuses leaves them vulnerable to great confinement and physical violence, and for what? For an entertainment for a decreasing number of people."
The HSUS ( The Humane Society of the United States ) has been monitering circuses for 20 years and found that animals are far from being treated kindly. They state: "Every day in America, a circus comes to town. The advertisements promise safe, family fun, colorful costumes, and exotic animals performing tricks at the snap of their trainers' fingers-big cats jumping through burning hoops, elephants balancing on their hind legs, and bears riding bicycles. But there's something no circus wants you to see: the suffering of the animals." Please follow this link; http://www.hsus.org/ace/12072 as the myths of the circus are exposed.
The RSPCA ( Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ) states: "The RSPCA's greatest concern is the disparity between the conditions imposed on wild animals by circus life and the environment that these animals need for their well being. Life in the wild can not be replicated on the back of transportation trucks or at circus sites around the country."
When a circus comes to my town, I do not attend, and ask others to avoid the live animal abuse too.
For more facts on circuses;
Back to
