Circuses are meant to be a source of fun especially for children who love them. However, behind all these entertaining unnatural acts of animals lie extreme cruelty, pain and torture. Animals used in circuses are unwillingly forced to comprehend the unnatural acts in very harsh environments. This kills their sprit and denies them the rights of enjoying what they enjoy most. The animals` mental well-being and health are jeopardized during the show. This paper discusses the reasons why animals should not be used in circuses.
Firstly, in circuses, animals are forced out of their will to perform acts and tricks which are not related to their behaviours. These unnatural acts and tricks range from riding bicycles to jumping through a flaming hoop. Trainers of circuses purport to base their tricks on actions performed by animals naturally through positive reinforcement. However, this is not true as the trainers make use of muzzles, tight collars and electric prods to achieve training objectives. Otherwise, the trainers would be arming themselves with sacks of food other than metallic weapons. As such, animals should not be used in circuses due to the torture they undergo during training. For instance, while training an elephant, one has to use an ankus. An ankus is a sharp wooden stick with a pointed hook at the end used in discouraging undesired behaviours. The ankus is embedded into an elephant`s most sensitive parts such as inside the mouth, behind the ears, around the feet, under the chin and around the face. This makes the elephant bears too much pain.
Secondly, animals suffer greatly in circuses due to the long distance travel involved. Animals are transported either by train or in 18 wheelers. During transportation, they are kept in cages which are not spacious enough to enable them turn around. In the cages, they are shackled in chains to prevent forward or backward movements. The animals are also forced to defecate, eat and sleep in the same cage in which they can stay for hours or even days. Animals are used to different climatic conditions. Circuses that employ animals in their performances travel widely across different states and countries. Animals suffer in extreme temperatures which they are not used to. The extreme temperatures caused by summer and winter exaggerate the already strenuous conditions caused by transportation and confinement.
Thirdly, animals in circuses are denied the right to live their lives naturally. The animals are placed in an environment which is extremely different from their natural habitats. Therefore, the animals are not able to fulfil some of their needs. The harsh training environment also breaks their spirits. Animals value nurturing their young ones, adventure playing with other animals and mating and courting. However, in constant confinement, animals are denied the right to do all these. The animals suffer psychological distress as a result of this. This can be observed through some repetitive behaviour such as pacing around the cages and swaying back and forward.
Fourthly, animals should not be used in circuses since they are a threat to human life. As the animals are transported to the performance arena, they often walk from the train or wheelers in which they were carried. Animals can become violent to the torture they undergo and start attacking people on the streets. Animals in circuses have gone on rampage, killed and injured people. They have also damaged valuable property. The trainers of animals in circuses are also exposed to danger of being harmed by the animals. In some instances, trainers have been attacked and killed by the animals. The animals used in circuses are also a source of threat to human life as some carry dangerous diseases. Some elephants carry tuberculosis which poses a severe health risk to people who get in contact with them.
Fifthly, circuses are not a source of realistic learning tool for students. This is because animals are forced to perform tricks which they cannot perform naturally. The animals are also forced to live in conditions which are harsh and extremely different from their natural habitation. Therefore, circuses only make students appreciate the cruel acts performed on animals but do not provide a realistic academic tool.
All in all, animals should not be used in circuses as they are denied the freedom to relish their normal life. Confining animals in cages make them give up what they enjoy most like exploring the environment, playing with others, courting and mating. Therefore, circuses do not provide a realistic learning tool to students. Moreover, circuses that use animals should not be encouraged since they are also a source of insecurity. This is because they can go on rampage and not only injure and kill spectators but also trainers. Animals on rampage can also destroy valuable property such as cars and buildings. In addition, animals undergo a lot of torture during trainings. They are forced to comprehend what they cannot naturally perform such as riding bicycles through whipping and smacking with weapons like hunks. Therefore, everyone should join the fight against use of animals in circuses. Potential customers of should be educated on what actually goes on in some circuses. Lawmakers should also be urged to prohibit animal entertainment acts.
Works Cited
Brennan, Stephen Vincent . The Greatest Circus Stories Ever Told: Amazing Stories Of Life Under The Big Top. Illustrated. Guilford: Lyons Press, 2005.
Preece, Rod and Lorna Chamerlain. Animal Welfare & Human Values. Revised. Ontario: Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press, 2004.
Spedding, C. R. Animal Welfare. Illustrated. Oxford: Earthscan, 2004.
Warren, Dean Marvin. Small Animal Care Management. Illustrated. Stamford: Cengage Learning, 2002.
