STOP CIRCUS SUFFERING
Never go to circuses that hav Due to the nature of travelling circuses, where they move every week and the animals must live in small, mobile accommodation which must fit on the back of a transporter, circuses simply cannot provide the animals with the facilities they need to maintain their health and welfare. Circus animals spend their lives caged or shut in transporters; horses tied up in stalls, others chained and confined in small spaces. There is no freedom of movement. Such severe restrictions on their natural behaviour and ability to move about, causes serious distress and suffering. For lions, tigers and bears the average space for each animal is about two metres by two and a half metres, barely larger than the animal itself, and that includes the space where they have to go to the toilet. Most of these animals have little or no bedding or anything to amuse them. For part of the day some animals may be given an exercise enclosure, but these are usually small with little to interest the animals. Elephants are the largest animals that walk the earth and in the wild travel for up to 20 kilometres a day, eating, bathing and enjoying the company of a close-knit family group. As these herds move they transform the very landscape they live in. In the circus they spend most of their day chained by the legs barely able to shuffle a pace or two forwards or backwards. If lucky they get a small barren enclosure for a few hours a day. In some African countries game wardens have given their lives attempting to protect these magnificent
WARNING:
The temporary nature of travelling animal circuses and the close proximity of often dangerous animals to the public, means that these establishments can never be entirely safe.
ve animals animals from poachers. Could there be a starker contrast in mankind’s relationship with animals (our duties and our responsibilities) than the way these animals are treated in circuses? Horses, ponies, camels, llamas and similar animals are usually tied or kept in small stalls, on short ropes, or may even be kept permanently in their truck. Regularly, often weekly, the circus will move on and the animals will endure long hours travelling in transporters – this is known to be distressing. Animals will be loaded up and left inside whilst the site is dismantled, then after the journey they will remain shut inside until the new site is prepared. Consequently, animals remain shut in their transporters for periods of up to 20 hours – even when the journey itself has been just a couple of hours. Living in such impoverished, unnatural conditions, it is no surprise that many of these animals go out of their minds. Frustrated, repetitive, stereotypic behaviour takes over – pacing up and down, weaving from side to side, head bobbing and swaying. These pointless movements, where the animal is no longer aware of its surroundings, are not witnessed in the wild, and are regarded by animal behaviourists as clear signs of distress. We call it circus madness.
Around the world, circus workers and members of the public (including children) have been killed and maimed after attacks by circus animals. Lions, tigers and elephants have all escaped from circuses, and people have died as a result.
Never go to circuses that have animals The British Government has promised to ban wild animals in circuses; however until this becomes law the animals will continue to suffer. Please help us ensure that the legislation is passed, and enforced, and support our work to end circus suffering worldwide. Thank you.
Whip me, Beat me, Kick me. How you can help: ADI investigations in many countries have found that the use of violence in the training and control of animals is common and part of the circus culture. Even animals like lions and tigers can be made to cower in fear. Often such activity takes place behind the scenes and in secret. During training we have filmed camels being beaten about their bodies and faces to make them pirouette; ponies being repeatedly whipped; dogs being beaten; elephants jabbed with spiked elephant hooks and beaten with metal bars.
Contact your MP, ask them to back the ban on wild animals in circuses (we can provide contact details). ● Pass this leaflet on to a friend and ask them not to go to animal circuses. ● Donate now to help expose circus cruelty. ●
Animal Defenders International, Millbank Tower, Millbank, LONDON, SW1P 4QP, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7630 3340 Fax: +44 (0)20 7828 2179 e-mail: info@ad-international.org www.ad-international.org
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