The use of animals in circuses arose in Europe during the 1790s. Animals are also mutilated so it is less risky for humans to train them. People abuse animals just for entertainment. 13 Norton, B. G. (1995) Ethics on the ark: Zoos, animal welfare, and wildlife conservation, Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. It's past time for transparency with. Wild animals provide entertainment in circuses, zoos, and wildlife parks, they form a central attraction in international tourism, and they are key members of ecosystems on which humans rely for . //]]>. 51-62. These parks that exhibit animals are inhumane and barbaric. Zoos are, in that sense, akin to natural history and archaeology museums, serving to satisfy our need for contact with these living creatures while leaving the vast majority undisturbed in their natural environments. (2002) Evidence for a relationship between cage stereotypies and behavioural disinhibition in laboratory rodents, Behavioural Brain Research, 136, pp. What's the Difference Between a Zoo and a Sanctuary? Have you ever thought about how these animals got in the zoo? Families who want to teach children to have empathy for the plight of circus animals while also celebrating them on display may enjoy holographic shows. In addition, as it used to be and still is in many countries with human slavery, the animals are often separated from their families. The zoology program at my State University of New York campus attracts students for whom zoo visits were the crucial formative experience that led them to major in biological sciences. Many trainers have quit and was disgusted over how the elephants. They are forced to live in situations that are often similar to those in factory farms, and are continuously subjected to pain, terrible fear, and distress so they will perform in circus acts. Ive never met more dedicated people in my life. To write a persuasive letter. There is no other outcome for it than madness, resulting in zoo captives who are, with few exceptions, mentally ill. Both the wildlife park and zoo claimed to be operating for the benefit of the animals and for conservation purposes. Retrieved from http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/reasons-why-animal-circuses-in-the-u-s-need-to-be-banned/ Stress even after the show: Of course, parents and children like to get in touch with the animals after the circus performances. These are mostly students who had no opportunity as children to travel to wilderness areas, wildlife refuges or national parks. The circus says that working with the animals stimulates their intelligence and it keeps the animals fit and agile. However, animal rights are not aboutranking or quantifying suffering, because all sentient beings deserve to be free. The loud noises and crowds of people are often upsetting or frightening for performing animals. Unlike zoos, sanctuaries receive no government or municipal funding, rely on small staffs supplemented by volunteers, and operate on shoestring budgets. Animals end up stressed and unhealthy or dead. And encourage your friends and family members to shun animal circuses by sharing this page. Historical Timeline of the Animal Rights Movement, Are Zoos Ethical? Schroeder, J. V. (1997) The day they hanged an elephant in East Tennessee, BlueRidgeCountry.com, May 1. John FraserSusan ClaytonWesley SchultzDr. The federal Animal Welfare Act establishes only the most minimal standards for cage size, shelter, health care, ventilation, fencing, food, and water. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. Hosey, G.R. The definition of animal cruelty is as simple as causing harm to an animal. This is exactly how animals held captive in zoos and sea-parks feel. 213-225. Dog shows, circuses and SeaWorld have been mistreating and exploiting defenseless animals for as long as they have been around. One of, Those animals do not having any freedom as they get trapped in the cage for 24 hours per day. Moreover, when they are captured in the wild it is not uncommon for them to die due to stress during their capture and transport. Do you look like a circus member? Globally, thousands of wild animals are used in circuses and forced to perform demeaning and unnatural tricks to entertain the public. Who is behind the camera? They also get to meet adults who have turned their love for animals into a career, and with whom they can identify. They would like to be together with other members of their group; instead, they live alone or with a very small number of other individuals. Rather helping the enterprise obtain more green, they are forcing these poor creatures to forcefully act, some of these instances lead to animal retaliation. 87-101. Animals used in shows may have been deliberately, and prematurely . & Hurst, J. L. (1996) Welfare by design: the natural selection of welfare criteria, Animal Welfare, 5, pp. 1 Iossa, G.; Soulsbury, C. D. & Harris, S. (2009) Are wild animals suited to a travelling circus life?, Animal Welfare, 18, pp. An enormous percentage of people see zoos as just an entertainment, and a place to go with your family and kids, but have you really sat down to think how animals feel when they are kidnapped from their natural habitat, and forced to live in cages for the rest of their lives? There is overwhelming evidence of compromised animal welfare in the circus environment. In countries such as the USA, dolphins can be confined in tanks that are only about 9-10 meters/30 feet long. Animals in circuses are often beaten, shocked, kicked, or cruelly confined in order to train them to be obedient and do tricks. They do it out of fear of being punished. These rescues would not have been possible without the existence of such places. For example, Kenneth Feld, the CEO of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, admitted that elephants are struck behind their ears, under their chins, and on their legs with chains, metal prods, and hooks. No animal should have to go through the pain and stress that many are suffering through. Tes Global Ltd is In addition to circuses, there are other venues in which nonhuman animals suffer for the sake of human entertainment. They list the following weaknesses: The use of animals to entertain human beings is wrong because: The use of animals to entertain human beings is wrong from the welfare point of view because: BBC 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Members of the public have been injured at SeaWorld's dolphin-petting pools. PETA reports that animals who are deemed useless as actors are discarded at seedy roadside zoos and substandard facilities that fail to provide proper food and medical care to the retired animals. These places can be wonderful for the animals, but can also portray an awful life for the captive animals. Grandin, T. (1997) Assessment of stress during handling and transport, Journal of Animal Science, 75, pp. In the end title credits of a movie, you may have seen a statement that read no animals were harmed in the making of this film. The reason this certification is needed is that animal abuse was rampant in the early 20th century during the start of the film industry. This means that they cant have the social relations they want and need in order to stay mentally healthy.6 They feel lonely and mentally suffer as a result, just as we would in their situation. In 2016, California banned the use of bullhooks, a sharp tool that is used as punishment in training elephants. 83-92. Surely there must be some middle ground that balances zoos treatment of animals with their educational potential. 249-257. Using animals for entertainment means that the animals are being taken advantage of, suffering, and even dying, for the amusement and pleasure of onlookers. Going to the circus is much cheaper than going on safari. This leads to many concerns from the public on the physical and mental impacts of captivity on the wild animals. According to Marian R. Merritt, circuses have used animals such as elephants, horses, lions, monkeys, bears, and tigers for centuries, and animal welfare groups are very upset about how circuses treat animals. Deriabkine once saw a trainer who killed a bear for refusing to perform his number. Animals all around the world suffer terribly in circuses and other shows using animals. As a result, the animals commonly display stereotyped behaviors, such as repeatedly moving back and forth or from side to side. Obesity is also an issue for circus animals since they cannot exercise. Zoos have been around since the eighteenth century. From a The abuse continues into adulthood, and they are never free of the bullhooks that puncture their skin. Once youve read the following 10 reasons not to attend circuses that use animals, youll never buy a ticket to one again: //