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I remember a year ago, a campaign was made to boycott circuses, zoos and aquariums. I was against the campaign at first because zoos, aquariums and circuses are assumed to be entertaining. I was asked by my friends not to go into debates without knowing the truth and search the subject properly. After my research was done; I became the number one supporter in the middle east of animal rights, and I believe circuses, zoos and aquariums captivate and violate animal rights and should be shut down. The proponents claim that luxurious zoo or aquarium or circus will ensure that animals are in great conditions by being cared for and having enough space to do whatever they want. Also, by bringing animals into one safe habitat …show more content…
Circus animals are being forced and bullied to perform acts and behaviors they would not perform in nature. Circus Captains violate them to the extent that it results in stress, physical abuse, and death. For instance, baby elephants being hold up with cables and compulsorily stretched and defeated by group of men to make him accomplish tricks like headstands. Also, animals are killed when they are no longer in control. (Mendez et al., n.d).In addition, when circus animals travel to different venues they face severe circumstances on the road like the time taken to travel could be estimated as eleven month distance also they keep them in poor shelter which can cause them damage, pressure, and death. For example, a lion was found dead in 2004 while traveling in a box car. It was estimated that the pressure of acting in circuses and forcing the elephants to stay captive can have a weighty effect on their health and behavior. They will be no longer able to continue in the captive surroundings which include drop in durability, foot pain, auto-immune disease, aggression, sadness, and hating on each other. In addition, a 54-year old circus elephant fainted after a circus show because of boarding a train. Local law enforcement lacks the experience to detect if the circus animal’s well-being is satisfied. (Mendez et al.,
Circus animals are still wild animals, captive born or not, they still retain the needs to roam freely and socialize. They also never lose instinct to defend themselves. America, a country that has deemed animal cruelty a crime, endangered species protected and partakes in extreme publ...
It’s always fun to go with your friends and family to see cute and exotic animals when you go to the zoo, right? You may think that they have the best life having people to give them things that want and to protect them, but some of them are actually suffering just for our amusement from being in that small enclosure all day and all night. Animals should not be put in zoos because they can develop many mental and physical health problems due to the absence of some natural necessities and they are not always treated as nice as you think.
Humans have always been enamored by the beauty and majesty of the wild creatures of the Earth; Asian elephants, the big cats of Africa, and of course the adorable monkeys, apes, and chimpanzees. Capitalizing on the public’s love for these animals, entrepreneurs and business moguls have captured some of these creatures and allowed people to buy an up close encounter with the wild beasts of the world. Some have even trained these beasts to perform tricks for the pleasure of the audience. It is a common scene in the world today for families to spend the weekend at the circus or the zoo, peering in at the lives of the wild animals by whom people are so captivated. However, when adults plan a fun, family outing at these entertainment venues, they may not realize the abuse and neglect they are supporting by doing so. The vast majority are naïve to the horrors lurking under the big top once the crowds have dispersed. The hidden truth, is that wild animals are torn from their families, abused and neglected, and live lives far from what was naturally intended; all this for the love of money, and due to corruption and secrets, they most often get away with it.
The morality of using animals for the purpose of human entertainment has long since been a divisive, polarising issue, and one to which there is no clearly defined solution. Debates on this issue commonly question the ethical responsibilities humans have to animals, and, subsequently, whether or not animals deserve to be afforded the same ethical treatment as humans. This is perhaps most evident in the extensive, subjective and widespread debate regarding the ethical acceptability of utilising circus animals for human entertainment. Many would argue that the entertainment benefits gained by humans outweigh the detrimental effects on the animals. However, conversely, it has been proposed that circuses knowingly harm these animals both physically and psychologically. This essay will argue that owning and training circus animals to perform for human entertainment is a blatantly unacceptable practice from an ethical perspective, and, hence, that humans have an obligation to appropriately uphold the ethical rights of circus animals. In doing so, three main points will be argued. Firstly, investigations will be undertaken to gauge the quality of life of circus animals. More specifically, the treatment and training methods of circus animals will be examined to demonstrate that these practices are both unnecessary and cause physical suffering to the animals. Secondly, legislation pertaining to the treatment of circus animals will be explored. Subsequently, human attitudes and behaviours towards circus animals will be investigated, while social ignorance and apathy towards the treatment of circus animals will be discussed, to display that these laws do not adequately protect circus animals. Finally, the sentience of animals will be inve...
Katie Mettler wrote an article about the retirement of the elephants in the Ringling Bros. circus. In this article she states, “More USDA investigations followed, including a look into the death of 4-year-old elephant Benjamin, who was hit with a bullhook when he refused to exit a pond during a recreational swim between circus performances”(Mettler,2016). This elephant wasn’t even causing any harm, he just wanted to swim a bit longer. He was punished and killed just because he wouldn’t get out of the pool. In an article about whether animals should be kept in captivity or not, Danielle Pucillo claims, “Captive wild animals should not be used for entertainment. Unfortunately, using animals in a theatrical manner is what brings in the crowds and subsequently the profits. While some theme parks may try to incorporate education into the equation in order to justify running these shows, using these majestic animals for laughs and gasps is disrespectful and abusive”(Pucillo,2016). People may try to cover up that they are holding animals captive and that they know it’s wrong, but animals doing tricks and flips helps the parks get by. Using animals that deserve to be in the wild, for entertainment and gaming is inhumane and barbaric. Parks and zoos teaching animals tricks often use things like whips and bullhooks, to make sure that the animals are obedient and do the tricks
The difference between right and wrong is not always perfectly clear. A long-standing part of cultures across the world, zoological and animal parks have been around for hundreds of years. While in the past concerns and issues regarding the ethical problems zoos seem to impose were less prominent, in recent times the rise of animal rights activist groups and new generational values have influenced the way people view these parks. Critics believe that zoos are an unnatural habitat for animals and force them to live in captivity, having a negative impact on their health. Yet, there are still many who fully support zoos, citing business and educational reasons.
Smith, RaeLeann. "Circus Animals: Abused and Dangerous." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2007. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
“Stick that hook into ‘em… when you hear that screaming, then you know you got their attention.” – Circus elephant trainer caught on tape (Circus Animals). All across the world, animals used in circuses such as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey live a horrific life in which they are dominated, confined, and violently trained. They are routinely beaten, shocked, and whipped until they learn to perform tricks that make no sense to them. (Meet the Elephants). Many people are not aware of the harsh reality the elephants and other circus animals face just so circuses can make money. The way these circuses treat these animals that have been ripped from their homes
Since approximately 1250 B.C., ancient Egyptians had created and practiced the capture and display of animals in what are now known as zoos (Fravel). Records describe such exotic animals as birds, lions, giraffes, and tigers in captivity (Fravel). Since then, zoos have continued to entertain millions with the exciting chance to view exotic animals up close and personal. Even in ancient Greece, exotic animals were on display in fighting arenas, and in enclosed viewing areas. Originally in America, zoos were just created so that royalty and the wealthy could flaunt their exotic animals to the public (Leolupus). Today, with species threatened and habitats disappearing worldwide, zoos are serving a new purpose other than the mere exhibition of animals – conservation. (Fravel). When you think of a zoo, you either think of a fun, entertaining place that provides close-up and exciting exhibits of wild animals that you would otherwise never get the chance to see, or a place where people keep suffering, unhappy animals captive just for entertainment and display. However, despite whichever view you hold, and despite the stereotypes, some zoos have evolved to serve alternative and helpful purposes. Although some zoos face controversy due to allegations such as lack of space and quality care, neglect, and cruelty, some zoos have programs specifically designed to help and protect animal species. For example, these zoos have programs that help such conservation efforts as breeding.
Animals should not be held captive in zoos because it is inhumane and unfair to the animals. There are so many records of terrible things that have happened to animals in zoos over the past few centuries, the go under the radar too often. Too few people even know about these animal care atrocities, and therefore the New York Times decided to bring light upon this situation. The Times did a first-of-its-kind analysis of 390 elephant fatalities at accredited U.S. zoos over the past 50 years (Berens 3). It found that most of the elephants died from injury or disease linked to conditions of their captivity, from chronic foot problems caused by standing on hard surfaces to musculoskeletal disorders from inactivity caused by being penned or chained for days and weeks at a time.
The life of a circus animal is hard and demanding. It is not an acceptable way of life for an animal. Circuses would quickly lose their appeal if the public were more aware of their mistreatments of these animals. Many circuses do not have much money and as a result the animals suffer from inadequate care. These animals spend most of their time in small cages used for transportation. The Animal Welfare Act provides cage requirements, but many circuses fail to follow this law. Even the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey circus was cited for 65 violations over a two-year period according to Florence Lambert. When traveling, animals spend hours, even days between sites in confinement..
The article “Animals Used as Entertainment” lists rodeos, circuses, bullfighting, horse racing, cockfighting, dog fighting, and zoos as examples of the many ways animals are used in entertainment. Circuses and zoos are the two most relevant forms of animal mistreatment. Both of these are sources of entertainment for children and adults. Zoos declare that the...
This essay proposes to investigate the ethics of training, and subsequently utilising, circus animals for the purpose of human entertainment. Therefore, the essay will respond to the question “what moral or ethical obligations do humans have in respect of other animals? How can these obligations be filled?” It should be noted that a distinction is made between morals, which are personal standards of behaviour – and ethics – which are moral principles that govern societal behaviour. This essay will focus on ethical obligations. Specifically, the treatment and training methods of circus animals will be researched to ascertain what, if any, physical or psychological discomfort results for the animals. More precisely, investigations will be undertaken to gauge circus animals’ quality of life, and thus arguments that circus animals both enjoy and loathe this treatment will be explored. Additionally, specific cases of cruelty to circus animals, together with various legislation that either allows or prohibits such behaviours, will be examined.
Zoos are an unsuitable environment for wild animals and should, therefore, be abolished. Firstly, zoo animals are kept in a very confined area compared to their vast natural habitat. Secondly, breeding programmes are far less successful than zoos claim. Thirdly, zoo animals are exposed to many diseases and other dangers. Zoo animals are usually kept in very cramped enclosures and do not behave like their wild counterparts.
They are pressured into completing harmful acts, as well as maneuvering their bodies in ways that are anomalous. Acts such as these tend to cause distress in the circus animals. Instead of supporting circuses that use animals in their shows, people should support animal-free circuses. Animal-free circuses feature spectacular shows without harming any animals.