Zookeeper's Lounge

CNN news had an article online about this 15-yr old high school student in Denver Colorado is starting a petition to ban circuses in state from using wild animals. The ban is to apply to both state-run circuses and visiting circuses including Ringling Brothers, etc. She hopes to garner enough signatures so us Coloradoans can vote on the issue in November. She stated that circuses are making a mockery of animals and that "you don't see bears riding bikes or tigers jumping through hoops of fire in the wild." Also brought up was the unethical treatment of animals by circuses. Personally I support this young lady and wish her luck and if the issue is on ballot in November I will vote to ban circuses from having wild animals. How does everyone else feel about wild animals being captured and performing in circuses?

Well, overall, I can see where she is coming from. A lot of circuses do mistreat their animals. But not all of them do. Some of the animals, such as elephants, sometimes don't mind performing as long as they're treated humanely. Others are nervous. I guess if I were one of those animals, I wouldn't like performing in front of all those people. Actually, I would support the teenager all the way.

its hard to decie were to stand because yes not all animals are treated well in circsuses but some are if u look at Ringling Brothers there animals are treated well. there animals do the same things tyhat animals do in movies. so after banning them in cirsuses will animals proforming in movies be next due to the fact that cameras arent in the wild. what i think should happen is every circusues should be inspected when they first arrive and befor every show and if the animals treatment is not up to a set standard then that cirsuses should be banned. you can make a law off extreams just because one circus is bad does not mean the next one will be bad too.

Robbie, that's a good idea. You're right, just because one circus is bad, doesn't mean all of them are bad. That's a good suggestion as well.

I semi-agree. I have no problem with Ringling Bros. and Cirque de Soliel because from all I've read about them they all take very good care of their animals, allowing them to exercise and play and relax when they are not performing. To me, the "you don't see animals doing this in the wild" is sort of like saying humans should have remained cavemen because that's what we were originally. As long as the animal is not being put in blatant danger, and is not being forced to perform, I don't see any reason why they should not. I have taught one of my cats to stand up and dance around in a circle for a treat--I don't think that's cruel, he seems to quite enjoy the game. EDIT: I do not consider house cats "domesticated," because I think they've proven they can exist feral without human intervention. Therefore I would include any cat in the "wild animals" category. They just happen to be small enough we can keep them in our homes without fear of being eaten.

I'm a little iffy on certain tricks, however. I don't think cats should be jumping through flaming hoops. I wish circuses would not engage in those performances. But I don't think they are "abusing" the animal by teaching them to do it.

I also know that a lot of circuses do mistreat their animals, and I would support a ban on those circuses 100%. However, if said circuses were put out of business by the ban, I would want some assurance that their animals would go to good homes in zoos and sanctuaries, instead of being destroyed.

I think what would be more reasonable would be a law that mandates an inspection of each and every circus wanting to perform in the city, and a ban on certain tricks that are deemed unsafe for the animals. If it is found that the circus is mistreating their animals or not otherwise providing them with proper care, they should not be allowed to perform.

Although I respect her point of view, I would not vote for the particular law this young lady is proposing.

Just my 2 cents.

I like LunaManer's idea. Have a law that has a mandatory inspection of circuses and then decide rather or not to ban the circus from ahving wild animals. Also maybe regulate the tricks so the animals are not in danger. Still, we need a way to make sure the animals are being treated humanely.

i said about the inspections so if animals are under wait or injuried then they will not proform and if mulitple animals are injuied or under wait then none of them will becuse conditions are not adiquait

not only the animals but also the clowns must be treated well... or shouldn't they ?

Whoops. My mistake Robbieb Sorry about that. I have two tests here in college this week so my mind is scattered about right now. As for the clowns I never liked them so I don't care how they're treated.

no i didnt mean it to sound like that. i was just saying why i felt that way about the inspections after your post

Wally wrote: not only the animals but also the clowns must be treated well... or shouldn't they ?

Oh Wally...you never cease to make me chuckle!

I think what Luna and Robbieb have proposed are great ideas, to have inspections and a certain universal code for responsible treatment of performing animals. I think Ringling Bros. is probably pretty good about how they treat their animals but some of those smaller, traveling circuses may be questionable. Especially when they keep elephants or other larger animals in rail cars or trailers, and then shackle them when they are taken out. That isn't fair.

I think Luna and Robbie have the right idea. Inspections should do the trick. I wouldn't ban animals all together. I mean...that's usually what you think when you think of a circus. Elephants and tigers. Ya' know?

I just hope that there aren't any circuses out there like this one I saw on television once. The trainers were hitting this poor elephant with a (small) sledge hammer to make it stand up! *twitch*

and ones like that one need to beshut down. the people in india uise pressure points to move there elephants and its worked well for for hundreds if not thousands of years why couldn't that circus just use that too :huh:

i dont know which side i would be on because if circuses are banned than hundreds or maybe thouhsands of animals would need homes, but if animals are mistreated they dont need to be in the circuses

Robbieb wrote: and ones like that one need to beshut down. the people in india uise pressure points to move there elephants and its worked well for for hundreds if not thousands of years why couldn't that circus just use that too :huh:

Yes, I agree....ones like that definitely need to be shut down. People can be so mean.