As you may have gathered, I am in support of animal circus. I think the relationship between animals and humans is beautiful, and I’ve seen the impact circus animals have on kids when they have the opportunity to get up close and see the animals. I’ve also been in the business long enough to know that the animal abuse that is so touted on social media simply doesn’t exist in 99% of cases. And I truly believe eliminating animals from circuses would be a disservice to society and to the animals themselves.
And, unless you’ve had your head buried in the sand for the last few years, you probably know that animal rights activists are trying their best to have us shut down.
This won’t be my only post on this issue, but today I wanted to ask a simple question. How much do you really know about animal circus?
If your knowledge is limited to that viral video that The Dodo, The Guardian, or even PETA for heaven’s sake, posted on Facebook not too long ago, PLEASE take the time to educate yourselves. Would you vote on an issue without researching both sides of the argument? (I hope your answer is no…) So why do you believe a viral video without hearing from people who are actually in the business?
MYTH #1: Ringling Bros was shut down due to animal abuse.
Ringling/Feld Entertainment was never found in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. The company did pay fines of $270,000, but this was a settlement and was a business decision. This is what “animal rights” activists do – they hit circuses with expensive legal fees and make it look like there was wrongdoing. Their arguments are literally designed to be misconstrued. Unfortunately, this often works and in this case it contributed to Ringling closing the show.
The reality is that Ringling treated its animals like the stars they are. Their animal care is top of the line and not only meets but exceeds the standards set by federal law. Also, a portion of every ticket sold to a Ringling Bros show went to conservation and research programs to save the endangered Asian elephant and numerous endangered species of tigers.
MYTH #2: PETA saves animals.
Goodness, I really hope you don’t still believe this one. Did you know that almost 100 percent of animals taken in to PETA’s shelters are euthanized? It euthanizes 84 percent of the animals it “rescues” from natural disasters within 24 hours of their arrival and calls it an act of love. PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk has been described as a “disturbed person” and a “shameless animal killer”. The nonprofit has a history of firing employees for questioning the decision to kill healthy animals, and it has a history of illegally seizing and euthanizing personal pets from private properties. The organization is a fundraising scam, and historically, less than 2 percent of income from its fundraisers went to any sort of research into animal alternatives.
MYTH #3: Bullhooks are used to abuse elephants.
While anything can technically be used as a weapon, a bullhook is designed to be an extension of a handler’s arm to guide the enormous, thick-skinned animals into position. As someone who has been an elephant rider, I can tell you that elephants are willing, intelligent animals who generally move precisely into line with a verbal cue and a simple point of the bullhook.
Bullhooks are a LEGALLY REQUIRED tool when displaying a free contact elephant.
MYTH #4: Wild animals are ripped from the wild to perform in circuses.
Years ago, exotic animals were captured from their native lands and transported overseas. The process was awful, and a lot of animals died in capture and transport. However, tigers, elephants, and other exotics have been bred here in the US for many years now. The animals have never experienced the wild and are happier and safer with their human handlers.
These days, there are conservation laws in effect which ban removing exotics such as elephants from their natural habitats unless there is a danger to the species, such as overcrowding.
MYTH #5: Former circus animals live happily ever after when activists shut circuses down.
Did you know that it costs Feld Entertainment about $65,000 per year to maintain each elephant at Ringling’s Center for Elephant Conservation in central Florida? While the center cares for more than 30 elephants, many animals had to be sold or donated after the closing of Ringling Bros. Other animals continued on to other circuses. Even Feld Entertainment, a large company with other income streams besides Ringling, could not afford to maintain all of its animals without the income from the circus.
With very few “elephant sanctuaries” in the U.S., what do you think their fate will be if activists take away the income of their circus families?
The legitimacy and standards of care in these elephant sanctuaries should also be considered. When Nosey the elephant of Liebel Circus was seized and transferred to an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee, she suffered a broken tusk and physical injuries as well as separation anxiety from lack of human contact and missing her family. You can follow her story here. The site also has some great information about elephant care and practices.
MYTH #6: Handlers of circus animals abuse their animals and use them only for money.
Let me let you in on a little secret. Animal circus performers and handlers do not get involved in this industry for the money. Want to know the truth? We are pretty broke. We are in one of the lowest paying careers in existence. We do this because we love the animals.
Want to know another secret? An abused animal does not perform well. Abuse makes animals fearful, listless, and sometimes aggressive on stage. Mistreatment of animals generally makes them harder to work with, contrary to popular belief. The trust and special bond between performers/handlers and their animals is what makes those impressive tricks possible. Want to see a really cool bond between a performer and his elephant? Check out @rene_cassely.
I’m not saying animal abuse does not exist. It has occurred within and outside of the circus, and it will continue if we tolerate it. The answer is not to eliminate animals from circuses or from anywhere in which they interact with humans. Circuses do not abuse animals. Individuals abuse animals. I personally make a choice to not work with anyone unless they practice exceptional care and love for their animals. Together as an industry, we can uphold high standards for animal care and training and continue to spread the beautiful relationship of animals and humans to educate future generations.
References:
Setting the Circus Record Straight by Steven Payne
50 Circus Animals Need New Homes When Ringling Bros. Shuts Down by Melissa Chan
Life After Ringling by Teri Silver
Fighting to Regain Custody of Nosey – by Andrea Lyon
PETA’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad History of Killing Animals by James McWilliams
Another Former PETA Employee Speaks Out – by Nathan Winograd
The Truth About the Bullhook – Bring Nosey Home
As well as my personal firsthand experiences and those shared with me by my fellow performers and industry workers.