Oh, what a circus…
Monday 9th March 2009, 3:44PM GMT.
Animal rights campaigners have been protesting recently outside the Great British Circus in Newark, Nottinghamshire, about the show’s use of performing animals, particularly their European elephants act, writes Emma Suddaby.
And while I know the protesters’ hearts are in the right place, I also believe they don’t understand the damage they’re doing.
The circus has all but disappeared from our world, a faded memory banished to the pages of books, to movies, lingering only in our cultural folklore.
That’s mostly down to the plunge in popularity of circus animals . . . and before you all start screaming about animal rights, I’m right there with you and agree that welfare standards for animals involved can’t be high enough.
But in the case of these particular elephants, all checks made on their conditions and well-being have been passed with flying colours. Their owners are experienced and the elephants themselves show no signs of distress or unhappiness.
What it really comes down to is whether you agree or disagree with performing animals. And let’s get this straight, as I’ve heard much about the indignity of asking ‘wild’ animals to perform – the elephants in this act, along with most other circus animals, never were wild in the first place. They were bred in captivity, which explains why they appear so comfortable with humans and with their surroundings: they are.
Of course I hate animal cruelty in any shape or form and have campaigned against it myself, but I don’t believe it is cruel to encourage an animal to perform.
Is it cruel to train a dog to search a house for drugs, or a bus for bombs? Is it cruel to train rats to work with handlers to sniff out landmines? Is it cruel to train dolphins to swim and interact with the sick and disabled?
I don’t believe that any of the above are cruel, and I equate them absolutely with animals trained to perform in circus acts. Go ask the animals what the difference is – training is training.
And what circus animals offer society is just as inspirational and important as the work of sniffer dogs.
Let’s not forget that the elephant’s place in the world is far from guaranteed. Like many others, their existence in the wild is increasingly threatened, and the only thing that can save them is the very thing that threatens them: us.
Circus animals are ambassadors for their species. The more children who are first inspired to learn and care about them by the circus means, the more adults who will one day care enough to take action to protect them.
So think carefully before condemning the circus and in doing so, rubbing yet another layer of sparkle off modern life.
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I must address several inaccuracies in Emma Suddaby’s article of 9th March (Oh, what a circus…).
She states that the three elephants in question have all received a clean ‘bill of health’, in respect of their condition and well-being. Documentary evidence obtained by the Captive Animals’ Protection Society (CAPS) reveals that one of the elephants, Delhi’ has twice had to be rescued by the fire service, due to the problems she has with her legs. The other two elephants, Wanna Manna and Sonja, each have their own health issues, including trunk paralysis and blindness – hardly a glowing testimony to their health! In addition, recent footage from a major news channel (Sky News), clearly showed that the elephants were displaying stereotypic behaviour – a sign of stress. Elephants and other animals in circuses frequently display this repetitive psychotic behaviour, and this is well documented.
Ms Suddaby is incorrect in believing these elephants “never were wild in the first place.” Sonja, an African elephant, was born in the wild 35 years ago. Her family were slaughtered during a cull and she was sold to a circus as a calf. Both Delhi and Wanna Manna were sold to circuses, as calves, by a logging company in Burma, following their birth in the wild. However, whether elephants are born in captivity or their natural habitat, serves as no reasonable argument for keeping them in circuses. They remain wild regardless and have a genetic predisposition to wanting to act like their cousins in the wild environment.
The argument that “training is training” sadly shows a lack of understanding of our use of animals. However, with regard to circus animals, they are each trained in complete secrecy (even the RSPCA is not allowed to watch bone fide training sessions). The only way in which we can view these sessions, is through undercover investigations. These reveal the often violent and brutal methods used to train animals in circuses.
The term “ambassadors for their species” is an over-used euphemism used by those who try to justify keeping wildlife in captivity for entertainment purposes. Would these animals volunteer to give up their freedom in a natural ecosystem, with all the infinite possibilities and challenges that would offer? Or would they rather be forced to perform unnatural tricks in a circus ring?
Ms Suddaby states that she hates animal cruelty. This may be the case. However, the use of all animals in circuses is nothing but cruel, Animal circuses are harmful, and only reinforce the notion that animals are here simply for our own amusement and curiosity. We would urge members of the public to only visit circuses that employ human artistes – thankfully, most of them do.
Garry Sheen
Development Director
The Captive Animals’ Protection Society
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