Circus animals
A great number of, and many different types of animals, are used in circuses every day, all over the world. Not all circuses use animals in their exhibitions, but where circuses do use animals, controversy and concerns abound.
Many threats exist to both the circus-going public and the animals in circuses including: wild animal escapes; mistreatment; the sale of circus animals to private “canned hunt” facilities; unlawful animal trafficking; and more.
The chief threat to animals in the circus is mistreatment and neglect by circus staff. Circus animals do not naturally jump through rings of fire, balance on stools or perform the various acts that circuses require them to do.
Those animals must be trained to perform, and trainers may use negative reinforcement (mistreating or withholding necessities to force a circus animal to perform, such as beating or depriving a circus animal of food or water).
Abuse in circuses takes many forms such as physical abuse with hooks or rods to compel circus animals to perform, confinement and chaining in harsh and potentially deadly weather conditions for long periods of time, and withholding food or proper medical care.
Every year, many circus animals, including some endangered species, die from this inhumane treatment. - Source
Many threats exist to both the circus-going public and the animals in circuses including: wild animal escapes; mistreatment; the sale of circus animals to private “canned hunt” facilities; unlawful animal trafficking; and more.
The chief threat to animals in the circus is mistreatment and neglect by circus staff. Circus animals do not naturally jump through rings of fire, balance on stools or perform the various acts that circuses require them to do.
Those animals must be trained to perform, and trainers may use negative reinforcement (mistreating or withholding necessities to force a circus animal to perform, such as beating or depriving a circus animal of food or water).
Abuse in circuses takes many forms such as physical abuse with hooks or rods to compel circus animals to perform, confinement and chaining in harsh and potentially deadly weather conditions for long periods of time, and withholding food or proper medical care.
Every year, many circus animals, including some endangered species, die from this inhumane treatment. - Source
Circus animals - Bears, elephants, tigers, and other animals do not voluntarily ride bicycles, stand on their heads, balance on balls, or jump through rings of fire. They don't perform these and other difficult tricks because they want to; they perform them because they're afraid of what will happen if they don't.
For animals in circuses, there is no such thing as "positive reinforcement" - only varying degrees of punishment and deprivation.
To force them to perform these meaningless and physically uncomfortable tricks, trainers use whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks, and other painful tools of the trade.
In USA and the Ringling Bros circus, elephants are beaten, hit, poked, prodded, and jabbed with sharp hooks, sometimes until bloody. Ringling breaks the spirit of elephants when they're vulnerable babies who should still be with their mothers.
Unsuspecting parents planning a family trip to the circus don't know about the violent training sessions with ropes, bullhooks, and electric shock prods that elephants endure. Heartbreaking photos reveal how Ringling Bros.circus trainers cruelly force baby elephants to learn tricks, and it's not through a reward system, as they claim.
For animals in circuses, there is no such thing as "positive reinforcement" - only varying degrees of punishment and deprivation.
To force them to perform these meaningless and physically uncomfortable tricks, trainers use whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks, and other painful tools of the trade.
In USA and the Ringling Bros circus, elephants are beaten, hit, poked, prodded, and jabbed with sharp hooks, sometimes until bloody. Ringling breaks the spirit of elephants when they're vulnerable babies who should still be with their mothers.
Unsuspecting parents planning a family trip to the circus don't know about the violent training sessions with ropes, bullhooks, and electric shock prods that elephants endure. Heartbreaking photos reveal how Ringling Bros.circus trainers cruelly force baby elephants to learn tricks, and it's not through a reward system, as they claim.
Cruel training
Circuses easily get away with routine abuse because no government agency monitors training sessions. Undercover video footage of animal training sessions has shown that elephants are beaten with bullhooks and shocked with electric prods, big cats are dragged by heavy chains around their necks and hit with sticks, bears are whacked and prodded with long poles, and chimpanzees are kicked and hit with riding crops.
Carson & Barnes trainers in USA have even been documented using blowtorches on elephants. 5 March 2015 - Ringling Bros circus says it will stop using elephants: One of America's largest circus companies has said it will phase out the use of elephants in its shows.
Many animals are trained young and even before they are weaned from their mothers - this is a baby elephant who through pain and coercion - are forced to unnatural stand on his head.
Elephants kept in captivity - exhibit locations - Database
Constant confinement
Constant travel means that animals are confined to boxcars, trailers, or trucks for days at a time in extremely hot and cold weather, often without access to basic necessities such as food, water, and veterinary care.
Elephants, big cats, bears, and primates are confined to cramped and filthy cages in which they eat, drink, sleep, defecate, and urinate- all in the same place.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (USA) boasts that its three units travel more than 25,000 miles as the circus tours the country for 11 months each year. Ringling's own documents reveal that on average, elephants are chained for more than 26 hours straight and are sometimes continually chained for as many as 60 to 100 hours.
And do not believe that other Circuses and countries treat animals better
Elephants, big cats, bears, and primates are confined to cramped and filthy cages in which they eat, drink, sleep, defecate, and urinate- all in the same place.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (USA) boasts that its three units travel more than 25,000 miles as the circus tours the country for 11 months each year. Ringling's own documents reveal that on average, elephants are chained for more than 26 hours straight and are sometimes continually chained for as many as 60 to 100 hours.
And do not believe that other Circuses and countries treat animals better
In the year 1908
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In the year 2016
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Tigers and lions usually live and travel in cages that provide barely enough room for the animals to turn around, often with two big cats crammed into a single cage. In July 2004, Clyde, a young lion traveling with Ringling, died in a poorly ventilated boxcar while the circus was crossing the Mojave Desert, where temperatures reached at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Clyde likely died a miserable death from heatstroke and dehydration. Previously, two tigers with Ringling injured themselves while attempting to escape from their cages in an overheated boxcar.
All industries that cause animal suffering in their business are always trying to show a commitment to eg endangered species - to beautify the otherwise grim reality - The European Circus Association (ECA).
A movie from ADI showing animals suffering in world circuses - The truth about the treatment of Animals in Circuses - This
video lifts the lid on the use and abuse of animals in entertainment • the
violence used to train and control the animals • the small cages, temporary
pens, and chains the animals live and die in • the long journeys • the
unnatural conditions • the animals driven out of their minds by boredom and
deprivation.
USA - Ringling Bros Circus - To break down an animal's mental health is a common way to force the animal to perform unnatural performances - to refuse the animal food and water is another method.
March 2011 - UK - Footage taken inside Bobby Roberts Super Circus shows shocking abuse to Annie, the UK's oldest and only remaining circus elephant (Anne is now being cared for at Longleat Safari Park) - Source
May 2013 - Very disturbing movie showing cruelty at Russian circuses - info and petition
Then - after years of mental boredom and physical punishments - ceases the patience for some animals .......
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Circus Bans
Because of concerns about animal mistreatment and public safety, a growing number of countries are banning or restricting the use of (wild) animals in circuses.
Animal-Free Circuses
We applaud trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, tightrope walkers, and acrobats, but let's leave animals in peace. The Latest Shows on Earth—Cirque du Soleil, the New Pickle Family Circus, Cirque Éloize, and others—are exciting and innovative circuses that dazzle audiences without animal acts. Click here for a list of animal-free circuses.
What You Can Do
When the circus comes to town, organize a demonstration to inform the public that demeaning stunts performed by animals in the ring are the result of behind-the-scenes bullhook beatings and other abusive training methods. Let your local news outlet know about the suffering of animals used in circuses.
Start a campaign to amend the cruelty-to-animals ordinance in your community so that it includes language forbidding the use of bullhooks and other manual, mechanical, and chemical devices intended to cause pain and suffering.
Most importantly, boycott all circuses that use animals and choose animal-friendly entertainment options instead.
Because of concerns about animal mistreatment and public safety, a growing number of countries are banning or restricting the use of (wild) animals in circuses.
Animal-Free Circuses
We applaud trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, tightrope walkers, and acrobats, but let's leave animals in peace. The Latest Shows on Earth—Cirque du Soleil, the New Pickle Family Circus, Cirque Éloize, and others—are exciting and innovative circuses that dazzle audiences without animal acts. Click here for a list of animal-free circuses.
What You Can Do
When the circus comes to town, organize a demonstration to inform the public that demeaning stunts performed by animals in the ring are the result of behind-the-scenes bullhook beatings and other abusive training methods. Let your local news outlet know about the suffering of animals used in circuses.
Start a campaign to amend the cruelty-to-animals ordinance in your community so that it includes language forbidding the use of bullhooks and other manual, mechanical, and chemical devices intended to cause pain and suffering.
Most importantly, boycott all circuses that use animals and choose animal-friendly entertainment options instead.
For ideas on other ways that you can help, check out - Steps to Take When the Circus Comes to Town - PeTA information
Please, do not visit circuses that use animals - unsold tickets means - no suffering animals