Mistreatment of Elephants and Big Cats in the Circus

 Mistreatment of Wild Animals at the Circus 

Animal right advocates and organizations  aiming at providing any and all animals a voice have been for years trying to call for the ban of wild animals in circuses here in the United States. The number one reason that advocates have always fought for this is because there has been know abuse of the elephants, and the conditions in which they kept, and most importantly how they train them.

The University of Wageningen, conducted an investigation on the treatment of the wild animals at the circus, for which they found that most of the animals had among other issues encountered: 

•      71 % of the animals had medical related problems. 
• 33 % of Tigers and lions did not have access to outdoor enclosure.  
•  Lions spend about 98 % of their time indoors.   
•  Elephants are shackled in chains for about 17 hours straight a day  on average.  
•   Elephants spent on average 10 hours a day showing  Stereotypy  Behavior, which means that these animals have been displaying    repetitive behavior  which is most common in animals that are  kept captive, specifically those who have inadequate stimulation.
•  Tigers have been known to be terrified of fire, but are still force to  perform by jumping thorough rings of fire.  
•   Animals are trained through discipline!   
•  Since 1990, there have been 123 cases recorded of tigers attacking at circuses.

ASPCA v. Ringling Brother

In  January 2010, after  almost a decade of litigation the court ruled against the allegations made against Ringling, stating that the “evidence was not credible with regard to the allegations ”made  on behalf of a former  employee  who saw the abuse and the grueling discipline the elephants were put through. He stated that he had emotional stress and attachment, which is why he had left his position. (169 Beverage) the court dismissed the case because they had “considered Rider a paid plaintiff not a witness”( 171 Beverage). Ringling Brothers settled the case as they agreed to pay 270,000 fine for the violations against (AWA) from 2001 to 2011.

 ASPCA might have lost the suit against the Ringling brothers, but the information brought to light 
because of the law suit is very valuable. Ringling CEO, Kenneth Feld admitted to:

•   Using the bull hook in the training of the elephants, mainly to discipline them. “the bull is  effective”
•     Keeping elephants in short chains for hours from 20 to 100, while traveling and in the barns.
•    Forcibly removing infant calves from mothers by chaining mother to wall, while they pull      infant with ropes.
• All of these practices violate both the (AWA) and (ESA).
• In 2012, the Dutch government banned the use of wild animals in the circus
• March 5 2015, Ringling brothers announce that they will be phasing out the Elephant acts by 2018.

Animal Protection

The Animal Wilderness Act (AWA) was enacted in 1966 by congress to govern the humane treatment of animals. The (AWA) was amended 1970 to protect the wild animals used for exhibition such as the circus, this was the first law to provide such protection to wild animal in the US. Never the less, the protection of the (AWA) proved to have its flaws and gaps which is why the mistreatment was able to take place, and big Circuses such as Ringling Brother, never got fined for the many violations they clearly committed. (158 Beverage)  The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was created to protect any animal that is categorized as an endangered species which prohibits any harm to any animal, such as the African elephant.

How can anyone think this is natural behavior

Let's not support what they do to them, don't go to the Circus. 

Sources: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150305-ringling-bros-retires-asian-elephants-barnum-bailey/
Images: google .com; "Abuse Under The Big Top: Seeking Legal protection for Circus Elephants after ASPCA v. Ringling Brothers."
http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus