It is not unusual for them to become depressed and despondent in a slow, downward spiral that can eventually lead to self-harm behaviors or attacks against humans. causes these poor animals to do just that. The ancient civilizations' rulers would often collect exotic animals such tigers, lions, bears, giraffes, elephants, and alligators. In his own words, Simon said that he wanted to see captured animals walk in grass for the very first time. For one, the infant elephant, Kenny, was forced to perform while being sick and eventually died (as a result). Horses, elephants, lions, and the like have been integral parts of circus performances and one of the main reason why the circus became so popular. 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Regrettably, laws regarding the treatment (read: mistreatment) of animals only set up impossible standards that either go ignored or are totally dismissed. arent already Cheers! Animals Should Not Be Used for Entertainment. Creating jobs for humans has moral implications when it is at the expense of animals. Just take a look at some of the prior incidence of said abuse. Zoos can help to save endangered species by keeping them in a 'safe' environment. The most famous tiger trick entails jumping through flaming rings. China has banned animal circuses and Bolivia has banned live animals from travelling circuses. Animals in Circuses and Zoos: Chiron's World. Frequently, visitors feed large animals with iconic snacks such as peanuts and popcorn. Greece: General ban on the use of all animals. 6 - An exhibit could be brought near you. Thats why it is so rare to see this opportunity but it does exist if youre willing to look for a circus that behaves appropriately. The research highlights the controversy pertaining to the use of exotic animals in the entertainment industry by discussing the solutions available and also the negative and positive aspects of both parties. The animals that are most susceptible to fatal diseases are, in fact, elephants, which are known to carry bacteria responsible for worldwide epidemics. Not to mention that this process goes on for generations on end. Circuses train wild animals to perform unnatural acts for human amusement. Arctic drilling Circus animals such as tigers and elephants are on the endangered species list. Bull fighting practices are legal in Spain, Mexico and parts of France. Initially this is done with violence, then with the promise of food. It is transmitted through the air, placing anyone that comes in direct contact with the ill animal (whether it be another elephant or human) at serious risk. And it's working: We are seeing momentum at the state and local level to ban the use of some wild animals in circuses. Jodi earned an Associate of Arts in social and behavioral sciences from Merritt College and a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from San Francisco State University. The conditions in which animals are kept in captivity can vary widely, with some facilities providing large naturalistic enclosures and proper care for the animals, while others may provide inadequate space and care. There are a number of reasons why animal captivity is a problem. Trainers at the circus often use whips, bullhooks, and other objects that inflict pain as the primary way to train animals to do tricks. First, animals in captivity are often deprived of their natural habitat and social structure, which can lead to physical and psychological problems. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. The 18-month study, sponsored by the RSPCA and published as Animals in Circuses and Zoos: Chiron's World? The animals that you see performing in the circus were usually bred in captivity after the initial captures took place. Circus animals age and eventually outgrow their usefulness. Animal trainers use bullhooks, whips, electric prods, and uncomfortable collars to force the poor creatures to do tricks. There have been seven prosecutions of circus trainers in 130 years; a tiny minority of the trainers who worked blamelessly in that time. Some of them are taken away from their families and everything they know, even if theyre born in captivity. And children's eyes are brought in other ways sparkle than . They provide a safe refuge for endangered or injured animals, but these parks can be abusive in their treatment of creatures as well. Large cats and circus bears are typically kept in 510 foot cages max for around 26 hours. See disclaimer. 15. While the circus created jobs for singers, dancers, entertainers, clowns and misfits who could levy their socially awkward physical appearance for a livelihood, it presented a challenge for the animals. , lions and tigers with a white coat can only be produced by father to daughter or sister to brother. So, even though the audience may believe that the trainer is petting the dog during the show, they are actually prompting the canine with a sharp, painful pinch. Hence, obesity is not only prevalent in humans. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); are not treated like the stars they are. People take part, considering them to be fun, entertaining, artistic or cultural . The modern ways to train their animal is absolutely different with the olden ways. Unfortunately, this was the case with Cholita, an Andean bear illegally kept at a famous circus in Peru, now thriving in the wild. Frequently, visitors feed large animals with iconic snacks such as peanuts and popcorn. We can see many different animals. whether wild or domesticated are poorly treated, and the practice should be eliminated altogether. Question: The Pros and Cons of the Circus Animals Attending a circus event is a rite of passage for many youngsters. When working with exotic animals people learn from them and they can learn life values such as compassion. 17. Humans, especially smaller children, can contract tuberculosis while at the circus! Animals learn how to do tricks through fear instead of encouragement. I every time spent my half an hour to read this Animals receive care from specialized trainers in zoos. Registered charity no.219099. The wild animals commonly abused in circuses are extremely stressed by circus conditions. Animal cruelty circus facts also reveal that the leading cause of euthanasia of elephants held in captivity is lameness and foot issues. One of his most notable performances included him leading a parade of elephants over the famous Brooklyn Bridge. As with any industry which creates financial gain, some people try to defend animal circuses. Whether you need to fix, build, create or learn, eHow gives you practical solutions to the problems life throws at you. Then there was Benjamin, a 4-year-old elephant who drowned while attempting to swim in a pond after being tortured with a bullhook. The Animal Legal Defense Fund files high profile lawsuits and lobbies and advocates for stronger laws to protect animals used in entertainment. Circus animals receive food, shelter and veterinary care. Vision Launch: Pros and Cons of Animals in Captivity, Time: The Last Act of the Greatest Show on Earth. Animals in circus (elephants, lions) are endangered species. Generations of people have brought their children to. 2. The reason being that elephants are group animals that thrive in herds, typically composed of. 4. Generations of people have brought their children to see wild circus animals. Opines that ringling bros 2010, circus animal abuse, video, youtube, october 23, viewed 26 march 2014; nova 2014, what are animals thinking - are animal; Cites alatola, e, the ethics of animal circuses, animal law guide 2010, the law society of new south wales young lawyers. Zoos have existed in some form since at least 2500 BCE in Egypt and Mesopotamia, where records indicate giraffes, bears, dolphins, and other animals were kept by aristocrats. 7. While the intent of what zoos are trying to accomplish is good, there are still some cons to keeping these animals in captivity . So what are Herminas favorite topics to cover? By being featured in a circus, an animal's plight or endangered position can be discussed and funds raised. Going to the zoo is sort of a short vacation for many people. According to facts on circus animal abuse, the first circus elephant was sold to the notorious P.T. Jumbo, the worlds largest circus elephant, was hit by a train after being led to his stall after a show. After the fall of Rome, large centers for mass entertainment fell out of favor. You rarely see wild elephants traveling and living all by themselves. Most importantly, Simon managed to shut down some circus companies and even protested against the Ringling Bros. to take. Even then, any animal that is forced to do tricks as a way to generate applause is one that is being potentially abused for the sake of human income. All rights reserved. The history of the modern circus starts with a man named Philip Astley. What countries still use animals in circuses? It is vital to educate adults and children on the cruelty displayed in circuses. On the other hand, elephants in the circus or zoo are given straw, branches, and hay. They are stripped of their natural habitats, and most may never see their families ever again. Royalty of other ancient civilizations were fascinated by exotic animals such as the princes in Arabia and kings, queens or emperors of China, Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Greece, and Rome. We empower you to efficiently solve each new challenge and make your life better and easier. Sheila Lehrke, the animal issues coordinator for the International Professional Rodeo Association, has a brochure full of rules and guidelines for handling livestock that govern all association. Restricting animal use in a circus show could be viewed as an infringement on an individuals right to enjoy animal acts. What are the pros of animal entertainment? From my observations at ringside, it's the only form of entertainment where the under-fives are guaranteed to enjoy themselves as much as their grandparents, making it a cheap day out for all the family. The truth is some are highly likely to have been illegally poached from the wild and sold into circuses, while other animals have been bred for the entertainment industry. Being confined to small spaces for extended periods, species such as tigers, monkeys, elephants, and ponies are denied certain natural behaviors. 8. Big cats learn to obey commands because they're afraid of being whipped. The use of animals in captivity should be minimized and done in a way that causes the least harm, and ensure that the animals are able to express their natural behaviours as much as possible. Our investigations in Asia have uncovered moon bears riding motorbikes, macaques riding dogs and orangutans spinning plates. Not only is this an absolutely disgusting thing to do (in general) but the genetic defect that makes the animals coat white can also cause different health problems and various other severe defects such as making the white tiger cross-eyed. Circuses are not only a concern for the animals in them, but also for the people watching.