Gather round and behold: animal exploitation

˝The notion that its entertaining to see animals being coerced into acting like clumsy humans, or amusing to see powerful animals reduced and cowering to whips, supports the old idea that we are superior to animals of other species and we have the right to dominate them.˝
Dr Desmond Morris, anthropologist and expert on animal behaviour.

Circuses present themselves as attractive, fin and original places and are as a result are visited by a lot of children, also attracted by the animals that they can see in circuses. Unfortunately in circuses which make use of animals there is another reality being the jovial atmosphere and brightly coloured tents, clowns and juggling animals – a reality full of suffering, deprivation and death. For the animals forced to live in the circuses, there are few positives: only different forms of experiencing discomfort and suffering.

Deprivation of liberty

All of the animals forced to live in circuses – tigers, lions, bears, elephants, etc. live out their whole lives deprived of freedom and in the majority of cases only come out of their cages or boxes or are released from their chains to be forced to perform ridiculous tricks. These animals are individuals who would travel hundreds of miles if they could in search of food or shelter, and for whom not being able to enjoy great open spaces in which to run, wander, explore or play causes unimaginable suffering.
The animals enclosed in circuses find themselves in closed spaces where, far from the families they have been separated from and from everything that would make them happy, they eat, drink and excrete.

Tricks

The tricks the public enjoy so much are learnt through hours of very tough training that causes a lot of suffering and distress to the animals submitted to it. To the physical pain caused by the incessant repetition of uncomfortable exercises and the beatings they receive too often from their “trainers” so that they learn quickly and remain “obedient”, there is an added psychological suffering caused by the confusion of not understanding why they have to perform such tricks.

Elephants, tigers, lions and other animals World never ride a bicycle, nor dare to jump over fireballs, or balance on top of balls by themselves. In reality these tricks are uncomfortable for them. They perform them against their will and because they are scared of the consequences that not performing them would bring.

Transport from one city to another

Circuses travel thousands of miles in order to take their spectacle to a variety of towns and cities. The animals forced to form part of these circuses suffer enormously during these long journeys and many during travel. The only thing the animals know during these journeys are the chains which prevent them from moving and the cages in which they eat, drink and sleep. Sometimes the compartments in which they travel don’t even cover their minimum needs. The lack of ventilation, food and/or water and of veterinary care makes these journeys, which can last several weeks, into genuine nightmares.

Illnesses and death

Due to the lack of exercise, socialising, activity and entertainment for the animals used by circuses, they are often victim to serious mental illnesses. Stereotypical behaviour, that’s to say pacing their cages repeatedly, hitting themselves in the head, biting the bars and self mutilation are only some of the most common symptoms of psychological disorders which they animals display due to confinement and the treatment they receive in the circuses.

But they are also victims of terrible physical illnesses which fill their lives with anguish and pain. The lack of hygiene and exercise, the beating with bars and whips by their “trainers”, the chains etc. mean that the animals often suffer breakage of bones. The elephants’ legs, for example, sustain terrible injuries due to the chains and to being forced to sustain themselves on two legs during some of the tricks.

The days are numbered for the animals living in circuses, since many of them are killed or abandoned when they get old or become ill, as such becoming unable to perform the function that their lives are valued for: that of performing a spectacle. Other times the circuses sell them to other circuses, zoos, private exotic animal collections and even to laboratories for research. Generally they end their lives in a way just as sad as they lived them: in reclusion, under coercion and in misery.

Animal-free entertainment

In other countries animal circuses are illegal and with your help it’s possible that the same will become true in more and more places. Firstly we should show our rejection of the use of animals as entertainment by not going to animal circuses. But also its necessary for us to oppose speciesism and animal exploitation, informing people about why we respect other animals and/or supporting organisations like ours.