What about the Circus?
The Circus. A tradition almost as old as America itself. Aerial arts, clowns, the big top tent, fire, peanuts, and, yes, animals. The circus really does have it all! But while the human performers choose their professions, the non-human animals used in circuses face a different reality.
Some of the animals historically and currently used in circuses include elephants, lions, tigers, bears, horses, monkeys, camels, and dogs. Training and performance obedience pose natural challenges in attempting to adjust an animal's natural behaviors to perform for entertainment. In this quest, animals are frequently subjected to abusive and painful tactics such as beating chimpanzees over the head with an iron bar, prodding elephants with sharp bullhooks, and forcing tigers to jump through fire, of which they are naturally terrified.
Animals usually don’t get sick days, either. The USDA brought a complaint against one circus that made an elephant perform multiple shows while clearly ill; a different circus was found to have failed to meet basic federal standards of care; and a separate investigation found that animals spend most of their time chained up or in cramped, hot trains going from city to city. Indeed, sickness related to this type of confinement is far too common, and “every major circus using wild animals as part of the circus has been cited for a violation of the AWA [Animal Welfare Act,” an already vague law with limited protections for animals. It is also important to note that the AWA specifically excludes several animals, including horses used for entertainment and animals raised for food and fibers.
Using animals for entertainment purposes is also a risk for humans. Many people may remember the famous Siegfried and Roy show, which came to a close when one-half of the duo was attacked by a tiger on stage and suffered life-threatening injuries. While the cause of the attack remains up for debate, this type of injury risk exists for humans who work with animals in entertainment and for the general public. When animals are demanded to act in a way far from their natural instincts, they become prone to fright. A few years ago, one adult and six children were injured when a camel who was forced to give rides to humans was startled, and there have been countless other headlines that exemplify this risk.
Thankfully, many circuses have realized that they can keep their traditions alive without the use of animals. In fact, some states and cities have banned traveling animal acts in some capacity, forcing circuses to either change their program or not perform in a growing number of localities at all. Perhaps the most well-known circus, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, is reimagining and re-launching their “Greatest Show on Earth” in 2024, completely free of animals. Other circuses have never used animals at all, including Cirque du Soleil. There are plenty of circuses that can bring the magic of the big tent without animals, and usually, this information is easily visible on a company’s website, so you can take a look and find the best fit for your family.
Circus Monti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
And for the animals currently in the circus? While they may be suffering now, there is plenty of hope for a healthy recovery and long life if consumers continue to demand that circus’s leave animal cruelty in the past. So, if you are thinking of taking a family trip to see a classic tradition, consider choosing a circus without animals. But still do enjoy the peanuts!
~ by Alisa Marvel