Entertainment

Amusement?

Circuses, zoos, aquariums, dogfighting, hunting, fishing, horse racing, bullfighting… all of these practices keep animals in captivity and use them against their will for human entertainment. People take part, considering them fun, entertaining, artistic or cultural, but none of these justify the forcing of animals into confinement, to suffer and die, for our benefit. In the past, in Roman circuses, elephants, humans, tigers and other animals were killed for the sake of amusing spectators. In England, bears were forced to fight dogs until one of the two died. Until very recently, in a Spanish town, goats were thrown to their deaths from the church tower during festivals. All of these forms of entertainment have finally been rejected by the majority of society, though still many more forms of abuse are yet to be questioned and eliminated. Many of these legal abuses disgust us, whilst others appear to be perfectly acceptable, but just like the Roman circuses it is probable that they will one day be seen as unacceptable in our society.

Animal circuses

Circuses attract the public, especially children, for being colourful, fun and original. Sadly there is another reality behind those circuses which contain animals - The reality is suffering, deprivation and death. Lions, tigers, elephants, seals… animals whose lives in liberty are full of a variety of experiences, are condemned to a life of repeating tricks to amuse spectators but cause the animals themselves stress, confusion and physical pain. This goes alongside the life of neglect and constraint, which inherently revolves around entertaining, travelling and solitude. Only visit animal-free circuses, these are indeed fun. For everyone.

Zoos

Zoos are prisons in which hundreds of animals are encaged for the enjoyment of paying visitors. Animals from lions to snakes and all kinds of ‘exotic’ animals spend day after day in cages, and other enclosed spaces whilst they are ‘admired’ and photographed. Little can be learnt in zoos about the behaviour of animals, only about how to deprive them of their freedom and use them according to human desires. Many zoo animals suffer from 'zoochosis', a term used to describe repetitive stereotypic behavior such as swaying from side to side, head bobbing and pacing. The complex emotional and social relationships animals need to thrive are destroyed in captivity. More can be learned from watching a natural history documentary than seeing the sad shadow of an animal caged in a zoo. But even if we could learn a lot about animal behaviour in the confinement of a zoo, no gaining of knowledge justifies depriving others of their freedom.

Hunting

Hunting is considered a sport. As a result millions of animals die every year. The most common practice is ‘small game hunting’, in which the victims tend to be partridges, turtle-doves, rabbits, and aquatic and migratory birds. There is also ‘big game hunting’, in which the victims include wild boar, deer and rams. Hunters use guns to kill certain individuals, and lead pellets to kill, injure and mutilate others.

Aquatic prisons

'Aquariums' are aquatic prisons in which thousands of marine animals - including mammals such as dolphins and orca whales, and tropical, fresh and saltwater fishes - are confined. Many of these individuals would otherwise swim thousands of kilometres a day and possess senses which guide them through their aquatic habitat, but are frustrated in tanks where they are condemned to spend their entire lives. Through the glass of the aquarium we do not see the full picture. We do not see the boredom, the monotony or the suffering endured by the animals behind the screens. Seeing the reality would surely prevent us from participating.

Other ‘spectacles’

Other spectacles exist where animals are used to serve a human purpose. Rodeos, horse and greyhound racing are just some examples. In all of these the same wrong is repeated: Animals are created, raised, bought, sold and used for human entertainment to their detriment.

What can I do?

There are countless forms of entertainment which don not cause harm to, or oppress, animals. We can go to circuses that do not use animals, the cinema, the theatre, concerts, shows, art galleries, museums, or go for hikes in the countryside whilst observing animals respectfully in the wild. The possibilities are almost endless. But above all this we can make a difference in our lives by informing others about why these places should not exist. We should all be able to enjoy freedom, human or not.