Tuesday, November 20, 2007

The Greatest Show on Earth

I am sure everyone has heard about the heated debate over circuses, especially the popular Ringling and Brothers: Barnum and Bailey. Some argue that the show is “The greatest show on Earth” and it is quite a family treat to bring the kids down every year to see the poodles riding unicycles and elephants dancing. Others insist the animals are being harmed in every aspect of their lives including socially, physically, emotionally, amd physiologically.

The debate over circuses is not just limited to the United States. Currently the RSPCA in the United Kingdom is frantically calling upon the government to end the use of wild animals in the circus. Dr. Rob Atkinson, is helping to lead this governmental proposal. He wants to see the remaining 50 animals that are still participating in traveling circuses in the United Kingdom, be given their freedom.

The Circus Working Group, has completely refused to agree that circus animals have poor welfare. They claim there is no good evidence available suggesting poor welfare, especially during time of travel. They agree that these wild animals are confined more then if they were in the wild, but compared to other animal facilities, like zoos for example, these animals have the same welfare.

Posted by: Kathryn DeLisle (9)

4 Comments:

At 1:50 PM, Blogger PWH said...

I strongly support the end to the use of wild animals in circuses. I have researched a lot about this and have spent time demonstrating at Ringling Brothers circuses trying to educate others on their cruel ways. Ringling has violated animal welfare laws time and time again. They use electic prods and bullhooks on elephants. They don't use positive reinforcement, just punishment when forcing the animals to perform silly unnatural tricks such as head stands. The elephants live in confinement and are beaten when they don't perform properly. Ringling has abused and killed countless other animals as well. For more information on Ringling Brothers check out this factsheet: http://circuses.com/pdfs/RinglingFactsheet.pdf
and visit: http://circuses.com/index.asp
Please boycott circuses with animals and tell others to do the same.

Posted by Gina Sciartilli (9)

 
At 2:17 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have always been against the circus. Zoos(at least the decent ones) have open enclosures and have people monitor their health and emotional welfare. How can a circus make claim the same thing when in order to transport the animals they have to be in small cages on trucks. I remember seeing something on tv that showed a elephant losing control and stampeding into the crowd and finally had to be put down to avoid any more people being hurt. My first thought was how horrible it was for the elephant and that the circus was the only one to blame.

posted by Kelly Pollard(9)

 
At 12:10 AM, Blogger PWH said...

Well, I think the animals lost their freedom in the circuses. They will be more safe in the circuses than outside in the fields. Their chance of becoming preys is less than the one that out of the field. And they also have enough food to eat. But when they were trained by people, they may get hurt.

Posted by: Xuni Li (9)

 
At 1:43 AM, Blogger PWH said...

I think the use of animals in a circus is okay as long as their welfare is good. But in reality the majority or all of the circuses do not follow welfare regulations to make their animals as comfortable as possible. When doing this trick of the poodles in the unicycles the dogs are sitting on the hips which is a very unnatural position for them and can cause serious problems in the future. It is sad that we treat animals so badly when our diet is composed mainly of animal products! They give us food and the way we say thanks is by abusing them, neglecting them, exploiting them, etc. This should not be the way to give thanks for all they provide to us.

Posted by Carmen B. Arsuaga (10)

 

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