The Cruelest Show on Earth
The circus is one of the most abusive animal cruelty acts in the world. The show may leave you giggling in delight, but it most likely leaves the animals thinking of their next nightmare. But they never get a break. Not even when the show is over. They are either practicing stunts that could kill them, or trying to sleep in a cage smaller then they are, wrapped in chains. Viewers often don't know the danger these majestic animals are put in. Elephants take the risk of falling when they stand on one foot on tiny tubs. Lions and tigers jump through rings on fire! What would happen if an elephant slipped.... or if a tiger fell out of the air? The animal would most likely die. And the trainers are put in serious danger, too. Animals and their trainers are put in danger. Unbelievable. The circus is cruel, unnecessary, and dangerous.
The PETA states, "Elephants, tigers, and other animals that circuses use to entertain audiences do not stand on their heads, jump through hoops, or balance on pedestals because they want to. They perform these and other difficult tricks because they’re afraid of what will happen if they don’t." They are totally right. Do we ever see animals jumping through flaming rings or balancing on one foot in the wild? Let's start exposing the circus with eight things that circuses all around don't want you to know.
8 Things the Circus Doesn't Want you to Know
For years, the circus has covered up all their deepest secrets on the abuse of their animals. But now, we know. And now, we can make a difference. Now let's start by unraveling some of their most shocking secrets.
#8: Animals spend most of their lives in chains.
When circus animals aren't performing, they are secured to some type of poll, forced to stand there in chains, or they are trapped in the tiniest cages imaginable. Big Cat Rescue states, "Often the cats are beaten, starved and confined for long periods of time in order to get them to cooperate with what the trainers want. And life on the road means that most of a cat’s life is spent in a circus wagon in the back of a semi-truck or in a crowded, stinking box car on a train or barge."
#7: Elephants are hurt for any "disobedience."
Elephants in the circus are obviously forced to do the acts. When they stop cooperating, they are immediately whipped or hit with sharp tools. Thankfully, the circus elephants are leaving soon, so this abuse will stop.
#6: The wounds on punished elephants are visible.
Workers use powder or anything that matches the skin color that they can find to cover up the wounds. When the inspector or visitor comes around, the elephants were never hurt or punished and are living happy lives.
#5: Trainers have tools such as electric prods and bull hooks.
To train and punish the animals, trainers use tools that could almost be weapons to control the animals.
#4: Even children know about animal cruelty at the circus.
Adults aren't the only ones to boycott!
#3: At many popular circuses, many people show up boycotting.
People try to get visitors to turn around as they hold up their signs about circus cruelty. People know what really goes on under the tent.
#2: Baby elephants are dragged away from their mothers.
In the wild, social bonds are everything to elephants. At the circus, mothers and babies are ripped away from each other.
#1: Training baby elephants is disgustingly cruel.
The training includes a long, exhausting six-month process of breaking the animals. It is cruel in every way possible. Although elephants are thankfully soon going to leave the circus for good, it is important that we remember everything these elephants had to go through so we can continue to understand the cruelty that the circus is.
7 Animals Hurt in the Circus
Thankfully, we will no longer see elephants in the circus. However, there is still a lot of animal cruelty. Here is a list of seven animals abused at the circus:
- tigers
- lions
- bears
- horses
- monkeys
- dogs
It is shocking to see that even "man's best friend" is abused at the circus. This is most likely horrifying to animal lovers and pet owners.
The circus is full of lies.
Since there are so many protesters and conservationists out there, the circus spreads lies to mantain their reputation. These lies often include that they have "special bonds" with their animals and that they are "ambassadors" for their animals.
This is funny since there is obviously abuse. If there was a special bond between the trainer and the animal, wouldn't the trainer care for the animal's welfare and not use tools like bullhooks? Wouldn't they try to show the animal's wild potential in a safe way instead of forcing it to jump unnaturally through a flaming hoop?
And if they are really ambassadors, then why haven't we gotten articles about conservation from them? Why do we only hear about animal cruelty instead of animal facts? These are all questions we have to ask ourselves. Please, just say no to the circus.
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This made me sooooooooooooooo sad!
ReplyDeleteYes, the circus is a terrible place. When people are exposed to the truth... they are truly shocked.
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