6 BIG Reasons Why Big Cats Don’t Belong in Circuses

_Elsa_

Katie now wants to share some information about the big cats and elephants and why they are no longer a part of the circus. 

“The animal welfare experts gave 6 big reasons why these animals were stopped from performing in a circus,” Katie says. “I’ll go over each one of them with you.”

1. In circuses, big cats are often forced to live in tiny, cramped cages.  Circuses routinely cart animals from town to town in barren cages that deprive lions and tigers of opportunities to fulfill their basic needs to exercise, roam, and play. Many big cats are forced to eat, drink, sleep, defecate, and urinate in the same place. The only relief that many are given from this nearly perpetual confinement is during their brief performances, when they are subjected to whippings and roaring crowds. As a result of captivity, many big cats are overweight, while others suffer psychologically. The stressful, unnatural environment can cause some to pace back and forth or even mutilate themselves.

2. Their maternal bond is broken. In the wild, young tigers grow up with their mothers, but animals used in circuses are often separated long before they would naturally part, causing emotional distress for both mothers and cubs.

“Do you guys remember the movie Dumbo?” questions Katie. “Well in reality, similar to the movie but for different reasons, the mothers were separated from their babies. This caused a lot of anxiety to all the animals.” 

3. Their basic social and physiological needs are denied. Tigers are naturally semi-nocturnal and love the water. In circuses, they’re carted around and forced to perform in the daytime and denied access to any kind of watering hole. Adult tigers are solitary animals, but circuses ignore this fact and make them live in unnatural and often incompatible groups, sometimes resulting in fights and injuries.

4. They’re trained through punishment and food deprivation. Circuses easily get away with routine abuse because no government agency monitors training sessions. Trainers drag big cats by heavy chains around their necks and hit them with sticks.

5. Tigers are innately terrified of fire. Yet, in many circus acts, they are forced to jump through burning hoops. In order to condition tigers to make these dangerous leaps, handlers must routinely punish animals who do not comply. Tigers will perform tricks like this only once the pain and fear of punishment have surpassed their instinctual fear of fire.

6. As a result of keeping big cats in captivity, 126 captive cats and 23 humans have DIED in the last 25 years.   Also, more than 250 humans have been injured. And remember: These numbers are JUST in the United States and JUST since 1990. Compassionate people everywhere are using their voices—and their wallets—to show circus promoters that animal abuse is NOT entertainment. (Info here) 

Tiffi has a couple of tears in her eyes thinking about how they have been held captive all this time. Even Chewy sheds a couple of tears.  

Let’s continue - Tiffi loses it and Chewy is upset too

Start at the beginning – The circus is coming to town!