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Circus Abuse
Boycott the Circus: Circuses are not fun for animals
Elephants should not suffer abuse for entertainment.
• Elephants are “trained’ to obey commands with a bullhook or ankus, a weapon shaped like a fire poker with a hook and point used to beat and poke the animal, often in sensitive spots.
• Common training methods subject elephants to extreme physical pain and mental distress. Video footage has shown circus workers jabbing an elephant with a bullhook and then twisting until the elephant screams out in pain.
• Circus elephants are routinely beaten with whips and chains and subjected to other methods resembling torture. Video footage shows a handler using a blowtorch to burn off an elephant’s hair.
• When elephants are not performing they are chained by at least one leg, and generally by both front and hind legs. The chains allows for only one leg to be lifted, making it impossible for the elephants to turn around or walk freely.
• Most workers are paid minimum wage and have no previous experience working with wild animals. Handlers undergo minimal training with an emphasis on doing whatever it takes to ‘get the job done.’
All animals in the circus exhibit some sort of abnormal behavior due to a life of stress and abuse. Elephants develop neurotic behaviors such as head bobbing and swaying.
And no wonder! Circus elephants spend most of their lives in cramped cages where they are forced to both defecate and sleep. They spend most of the year traveling from city to city, enduring extreme temperatures and drastic climate shifts. There have been cases where elephants have frozen to death or died from heat exhaustion.
The bottom line: If an animal can still perform, circuses have little incentive to be concerned with whether they are injured, sick or dying. Few circuses are willing to pay for a full-time veterinarian, let alone one with knowledge and experience with the wild and exotic animals that sell tickets, including elephants, tigers, bears, monkeys, camels, giraffes, dogs, polar bears and more.
Circus Myths: Taking a Closer Look
• In circus-speak, ‘conservation program’ can be translated as ‘captive breeding program.’ While not all elephants born into these programs will become circus performers, all will be tested for the ability to perform and all will spend their lives in captivity.
• Conservationists and animal welfare groups agree that the greatest threat to Asian elephants is loss of habitat. When asked why Ringling Brothers doesn't redirect its efforts from breeding elephants to habitat conservation, Ringling's national press representative replied "habitat is another thing. We're not a conservation organization.”
• Circuses reinforce the message that exploiting elephants and other animals for entertainment is acceptable. Research shows that teaching compassion towards animals can improve a child’s attitude, relationships, and even school grades.
• Elephants do not naturally perform tricks on their hind legs or balance objects on their heads. Watching wild animals perform unnatural tricks outside their natural habitats is not an ‘educational experience.’
• Circuses are dangerous for humans as well as animals. Elephants have attacked handlers in response to stress and abuse and endangered audience members in attempts to escape.
There are numerous companies that offer elephants for hire which is a cruel and inhumane way to make money and exploits animals. These companies rent out elephants for functions such as birthday parties and parades. They falsify the facts by saying that these elephants are properly cared for. The truth is no animal likes being used for entertainment.
The circuses and fairs will still use animals because people will still pay to watch them. You can help ban elephants in the entertainment industry by not supporting a business that treats them cruelly. Many countries like Austria, Costa Rica, Finland, and Singapore have banned the use of animals in the circus and fairs. It is time we take a stand in America and BOYCOTT these events so all animals, like elephants, get a chance to live a life free from human abuse. Please don't support animal abuse, Boycott the circuses and Fair.
Elephants should not suffer abuse for entertainment.
• Elephants are “trained’ to obey commands with a bullhook or ankus, a weapon shaped like a fire poker with a hook and point used to beat and poke the animal, often in sensitive spots.
• Common training methods subject elephants to extreme physical pain and mental distress. Video footage has shown circus workers jabbing an elephant with a bullhook and then twisting until the elephant screams out in pain.
• Circus elephants are routinely beaten with whips and chains and subjected to other methods resembling torture. Video footage shows a handler using a blowtorch to burn off an elephant’s hair.
• When elephants are not performing they are chained by at least one leg, and generally by both front and hind legs. The chains allows for only one leg to be lifted, making it impossible for the elephants to turn around or walk freely.
• Most workers are paid minimum wage and have no previous experience working with wild animals. Handlers undergo minimal training with an emphasis on doing whatever it takes to ‘get the job done.’
All animals in the circus exhibit some sort of abnormal behavior due to a life of stress and abuse. Elephants develop neurotic behaviors such as head bobbing and swaying.
And no wonder! Circus elephants spend most of their lives in cramped cages where they are forced to both defecate and sleep. They spend most of the year traveling from city to city, enduring extreme temperatures and drastic climate shifts. There have been cases where elephants have frozen to death or died from heat exhaustion.
The bottom line: If an animal can still perform, circuses have little incentive to be concerned with whether they are injured, sick or dying. Few circuses are willing to pay for a full-time veterinarian, let alone one with knowledge and experience with the wild and exotic animals that sell tickets, including elephants, tigers, bears, monkeys, camels, giraffes, dogs, polar bears and more.
Circus Myths: Taking a Closer Look
• In circus-speak, ‘conservation program’ can be translated as ‘captive breeding program.’ While not all elephants born into these programs will become circus performers, all will be tested for the ability to perform and all will spend their lives in captivity.
• Conservationists and animal welfare groups agree that the greatest threat to Asian elephants is loss of habitat. When asked why Ringling Brothers doesn't redirect its efforts from breeding elephants to habitat conservation, Ringling's national press representative replied "habitat is another thing. We're not a conservation organization.”
• Circuses reinforce the message that exploiting elephants and other animals for entertainment is acceptable. Research shows that teaching compassion towards animals can improve a child’s attitude, relationships, and even school grades.
• Elephants do not naturally perform tricks on their hind legs or balance objects on their heads. Watching wild animals perform unnatural tricks outside their natural habitats is not an ‘educational experience.’
• Circuses are dangerous for humans as well as animals. Elephants have attacked handlers in response to stress and abuse and endangered audience members in attempts to escape.
There are numerous companies that offer elephants for hire which is a cruel and inhumane way to make money and exploits animals. These companies rent out elephants for functions such as birthday parties and parades. They falsify the facts by saying that these elephants are properly cared for. The truth is no animal likes being used for entertainment.
The circuses and fairs will still use animals because people will still pay to watch them. You can help ban elephants in the entertainment industry by not supporting a business that treats them cruelly. Many countries like Austria, Costa Rica, Finland, and Singapore have banned the use of animals in the circus and fairs. It is time we take a stand in America and BOYCOTT these events so all animals, like elephants, get a chance to live a life free from human abuse. Please don't support animal abuse, Boycott the circuses and Fair.
Be the change you want to see in the world. Make a difference by donating to the life of an elephant today.
