Circus animals

[4GS]

I've never in my life been to a circus, nor do I ever intend going to one. In my opinion it's wrong to train wild animals to do 'tricks' that go against their natural instincts, so is it right to keep lions, tigers, elephants etc for the sole purpose of human entertainment?

I have visited several zoo's around the world in my lifetime, and as far as I can see, although it's also wrong to keep wild animals in captivity, at least zoo owners try to keep the animals in a natural as possible environment

[Octavius]

Aren�t zoo�s also essentially there for the sole purpose of human entertainment, albeit without �tricks� in most cases?

I don�t really agree with animals being kept in a circus or a zoo, but if I was an animal, I think I�d prefer to be in a circus rather than bored senseless in a compound in a zoo whilst humans paraded by and pointed and laughed at my misery.

[4GS]

As I said, I don't agree with keeping any wild animal in captivity Octavius, whether that be in a circus or zoo, however in my mind, zoo's are the better option, I wondered what others thought?

[cruella]

Hi 4GS
I do not feel that any animal ought to be kept in captivity.
Having said that, I have watched programmes on Longleat and the animals there appear to be very well looked after. Think that probably comes under "Safari Park" Not sure.
I thought that performing animals in a circus had been banned now but I am probably wrong.
I have heard they have them abroad.
I honestly think it is a great shame for any animal to be removed from it's natural habitat, but if I had to choose, I would go for Safari parks every time.

[Loosehead]

in UK anyway, pretty much any circus has no animals performing, I went a year ago and there where no animals

[Octavius]

Well yes, ok, but safari park wasn�t an option when I first answered! If we are moving goal posts then I�d probably choose Maasai Mara in the Serengeti National Park!

Sweden, Austria, Costa Rica, India, Finland, and Singapore have restricted the use of animals in entertainment. The UK and Scottish Parliaments have committed to ban certain wild animals in travelling circuses, although they do still exist:

http://www.greatbritishcircus.co.uk/

[ruby27]

Given we are totally selfish and many animals can no longer live totally in the wild (we have made to many of them endangered so we need to breed them in captivity), I think its the conditions and treatment that are important rather than the issue of tricks.

We are animals and don't choose to live in totally natural surroundings, a house and a bed is far more comfortable than outside, I prefer my job to scavenging and subsistence farming. My dogs don't and can not run around in packs killing prey so I need them to have some games to keep them stimulated. I wouldn't force them to learn to ride a cycle or whatever is done in circuses, but if they were capable of doing it and I was capable of teaching them I might. If you look after animals properly for your own selfish reasons such as pets, I don't see this as being miles away from keeping them for your income, such as herding or circus tricks. Its how you look after them that counts.

[naomi24]

It's wrong to teach wild animals to do tricks for human entertainment, and to put them in cages when they aren't working. I absolutely hate to see any animal caged, whether it's a lion, a monkey, a hamster, or a canary. I also have dogs, but dogs are not wild animals, and there is no comparison between domesticated pets and wild animals. I've been on safari a few times and that has only served to strengthen my opinion.

[jno]

I don't think the biggest and best zoos and safari parks in the world could offer anything like the space animals have in the wild, so they're always going to suffer in captivity. For a lion who's roamed roam the Serengeti, Longleat will come as a letdown. Against that, some of them - the ones that get eaten by other ones - will probably be safer in a zoo than in the wild; and for humans to be able to see them is, on the whole, a good thing.

But they do need to be well treated. I'm not convinced teaching them to do tricks is always bad, but anything that casues pain (dancing bears and so on) is rightly banned.

[Oneeyedvic]

naomi - and there is no comparison between domesticated pets and wild animals. - actually domesticated means that you have taken a wild animal and tamed it. Most animals can be domesticated within a few generations.

Some people consider snakes to be pets - is that ok? What about mice?

If you are not happy for animals to be kept for our entertainment, are you also not happy for them to be kept so that they can be slaughtered?

Selfish as I may appear, I do not see animals as equal to humans - though of course I do not agree with cruelty to animals - but I have no issue with training animals to perform tasks.

[gelda]

To add to this I hate people who dress their dogs up in silly clothes and carry them round like dolls, they're dogs for God's sake, to me this is cruel.

[naomi24]

Vic, I know domesticated animals were once wild - but they aren't any more. A domesticated dog uncared for and left to to scavange will often end up in a very sad condition. And no, I don't believe snakes or mice - or spiders, come to that - should be kept as pets.

If you are not happy for animals to be kept for our entertainment, are you also not happy for them to be kept so that they can be slaughtered?

Entertainment isn't essential - food is. However, I'm not entirely happy with that either.

gelda, yes, that is cruel. Pretty stupid too!

[andrea81]

I must say that I agree 4GS, I don't agree with any circus but I too have the view that a zoo is better, as many are having a positive impact on wild animals.

i.e. a lot of zoo's have been responsible for the survival of some animal species. Also some countires gain a lot of revenue from these type of parks which goes back into the preservation of the animals!

[Oneeyedvic]

naomi - food is essential - meat isn't (though I am not a vegetarian, it is very easy for a human to survive on a vegetarian diet).

Though it is of course much nicer to eat meat - just as it is nice to be entertained.

[jno]

if there are too many animals in the wild, some will die. It seems the same thing happens in zoos.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar /28/wildlife.conservation

Naomi, animals may return to a feral state quite quickly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral

[tigerlily11]

There is a world of difference between performing tasks and performing silly tricks.
Dogs who are trained to sniff out drugs and lead the blind are essential. Teaching a tiger to jump through hoops is just down right pathetic. It is of little use either to the audience or the animal. It just earns the trainer money.
Zoo's on the other hand are needed.
How long will it be before certain animals can only be seen in these places? It would help if they were better designed. There must be ways to keep these animals happily and safely and keep them safe from those who would harm them and wipe them out. They might also be the only way that certain species to be returned to the wild when man has managed to wipe out what remains.
Surely that is enough to warrent them.