Animals used in circuses live dismal lives of confinement, domination, deprivation, and violent training. It is standard practice to beat, shock and whip the animals to make them perform ridiculous tricks.

Elephants often suffer crippling injuries from constant chaining and performing unnatural tricks.   Circus animals are deprived of their basic needs to exercise, roam, socialize, forage and play.

Stereotypic behaviors such as swaying back and forth, head-bobbing, pacing, bar-biting, and self-mutilation are common signs of mental distress.  

Using dangerous animals in circuses also jeopardizes public safety and often puts children at greatest risk. Since 1990, dozens of people have been killed and more than 100 seriously injured by captive elephants alone.  

wild animals in circuses have been banned in 36 countries due to the inherently cruel
nature of keeping wild animals confined and forced to perform.

Wild animal circuses send the wrong message to children that it's OK to abuse animals for entertainment. Children should be taught that it's never OK to abuse animals; they should learn to protect and value all animals.  

Some people, fondly recalling childhood memories of the circus, want to continue this tradition with their own children. But the truth is that many activities once thought acceptable are now seen as inappropriate and unjustifiable. For example, cock fighting and dog fighting were once considered acceptable, and now we have evolved to know better. Even though some people still find animal circuses a form of entertainment, more people now realize that no form of 'entertainment' justifies the suffering of animals. Especially when alternatives, such as Cirque de Soleil, are now available, wild animal circuses are obsolete.  

Yet despite the unnecessary suffering of circus animals purely for the entertainment of unsuspecting people, and despite the danger these abused animals pose to humans, Groupon offers discounted tickets to circus events. Tell Groupon it's a crime against nature to promote these unethical events. Tell Groupon to stop endorsing animal abuse or you will close your Groupon account.