To force animals to perform, circus trainers abuse them with whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks (heavy batons with a sharp steel hook on one end), and other painful tools of the circus trade.
The mental stress and frustration exhibited in circus animals in captivity is known as “zoochosis.” Being deprived of their natural environments, behaviors, and stimuli, animals start to mentally shut down to cope with the overwhelming stress.
Virtually 96% of a circus animal's life is spent in chains or cages. During the off-season, animals used in circuses may be housed in small traveling crates. Such confinement has harmful psychological effects on them. These effects are often indicated by unnatural behavior such as repeated swaying, and pacing.
The truth about animals in circuses is that they are abused and endure lives of complete misery, while some are even poached from the wild, purely for entertainment. Circuses around the world continue to use animals in their shows and very few countries have banned the practice.
Travelling circus life is likely to have a harmful effect on animal welfare as captive animals are unable to socialise, get enough exercise or exhibit natural behaviours. Many animals develop behavioural and/or health problems as a direct result of the captive life that they are forced to lead.
Physical punishment has always been the standard training method for animals in circuses. Animals are beaten, shocked, and whipped to make them perform—over and over again—tricks that make no sense to them. The AWA allows the use of bullhooks, whips, electrical shock prods, or other devices by circus trainers.
Animals used in circuses can experience both mental and physical suffering. Restrictive space and the boredom from a lack of environmental complexity can cause individual animals to develop unnatural and 'stereotypic' behaviours; contract disease from unhygienic conditions; and suffer for deficient diets.
Circus CrueltyAnimals in circuses are often beaten, shocked, kicked, or cruelly confined in order to train them to be obedient and do tricks. With elephants, the abuse begins when they are babies to break their spirits. Elephants are not the only victims of abuse in circuses.
Pets That Are Illegal to Keep in the U.S.
- General laws about exotic pets. Baby exotic pets look cute, but they are illegal in many states.
- Bats. You shouldn't keep bats as exotic pets.
- Big cats. Lions make very dangerous exotic pets.
- Sugar gliders. Many states prohibit keeping sugar gliders as exotic pets.
- Skunks.
- Alligators.
- Hedgehogs.
- Slow lorises.
ANIMALS will not be performing at Zippos Circus when it comes to Hove seafront this summer. This comes after a petition calling for the circus to drop its use of budgies and horses was signed by more than 5,000 people and backed by Brighton Pavilion MP, Caroline Lucas.
January 15, 2017, 12:04 PM · Feld Entertainment announced today that it will close the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus this spring, bringing to a close a 146 year run.
In 2016, pressured by animal rights activists and changing public opinion, Feld retired the last of its performing elephants. All of them—40 at the time—were moved to a 200-acre plot of land called Ringling's Center for Elephant Conservation (CEC). One year later, the company shut down the circus for good.
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus officially closed in 2017. After over 80 years operating the circus, the Ringling family sold the show to the Feld family who had been involved in the business for some time.
Despite the closing of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey (May, 2017), circus performances continue to amaze and amuse audiences in the United States and around the world. Here in America (and globally), traditional circuses are STILL bringing their Big Top or coming to a venue in a city or small town near you!
There is no such federal law in the United States. But dozens of local bans, as well as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's recent decision to fold its tent, have some lawmakers hoping the American political terrain might now be fertile enough to send all circus elephants, tigers and bears to retirement.
After 146 years, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey is closing for good, responding to a prolonged slump in ticket sales that has rendered the business unsustainable, according to its operator, Feld Entertainment.
Elephant act at a 2009 circus in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. In December 2014, as a response to reports of animal mistreatment, the Mexican Congress passed a law banning the use of animals in any circus in the country.
With only 40,000-50,000 left in the wild, the species is classified as endangered. And it is critical to conserve both African and Asian elephants since they play such a vital role in their ecosystems as well as contributing towards tourism and community incomes in many areas.
How old do elephants live?
Asian elephant: 48 years
African bush elephant: 60 – 70 years
African forest elephant: 60 – 70 years
What does PETA stand for?
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
