Are Circuses Degrading to Animals?
April 27th 2009 21:00
Lithograph by Gibson & Co. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
When I was about nine years old, my Uncle Patrick used to take me to the circus, thinking I would enjoy it. I didn’t. I didn’t like the smell of hay or of animal poo. I also didn’t like watching animals perform silly tricks. I also found the circus tent to be smelly, hot and full of sweaty people.
I did enjoy the acrobats, though. I couldn’t help but admire the skill involved in performing acrobatic tricks.
Looking back to those simple childhood days, I can’t help but feel sorry for the circus animals. It seems so degrading for them to be captured from the wild, only to be locked up in small cages and forced to perform tricks so we humans can be entertained. Viewed from this perspective, it seems better to leave these animals to fend for themselves in the wild.
Watching animals perform to entertain humans, even for brief periods, is something that still doesn’t sit comfortably with me. When I was at Taronga Zoo, for example, I watched the half hour seal show that is on each day. Even though the seals didn’t perform many tricks, it reminded me of a circus and I felt sorry for the poor seals. On the other hand, each seal was given plenty of fish to eat and were allowed to dive back into the pool after their five minute demonstration. There were no cramped conditions for these seals to put up with.
To find out more about circus animals, check out what the RSPCA and Animal Liberation have to say about circus animals:
RSPCA
Animal Liberation Qld
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Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Dont get me started on rodeos. The people who usually protest at rodeos dont have any idea how well looked after the animals are, and that they are only in mild discomfort for about 2 minutes or less. For the five days the rodeo goes on they are better fed and looked after than at other times of the year. Im very sad that there will be no rodeo at hawkesbury show - feels like somethings missing to me.
Comment by Queenie
Quirky Folk
Quirky Queenie
That's good to hear that you have been to circuses that look after their animals.
As for rodeos, I can't comment as I have never been to one.
Comment by samaritan
Fringe Faith
Samaritan's Stories
Samaritan
Comment by Queenie
Quirky Folk
Quirky Queenie
Thanks for dropping by.
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
But as Kleonaptra says, some circuses probably treat the animals quite well.
I think the idea of the animal-free circus is a good one. Cirque de Soleil travel the world entertaining people without the need for animals and there is an Australian one called the Flying (something).
The pity about the Cirque de Soleil ones is that they are pretty expensive and out of the price range of most average families.
Comment by Someone
Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business
Yeah, I won't go to Circuses. I can't see the conditions being anywhere near as good as a zoo, and even zoos probably aren't the best thing for them.
Comment by Queenie
Quirky Folk
Quirky Queenie
I'm all for animal-free circuses even if there are some that treat their animals well. Animals should be left alone to enjoy life, not perform.
Thanks for posting.