Make it illegal to have wild animals perform in circuses

The Issue

Millions of animals are being tortured and forced to perform at circuses, a circus should only be trained humans not something that belongs to the wild. But remember there are so many entertaining circuses that don’t exploit animals, attend them instead. 

Many animals used in circuses are bred in captivity and will spend their entire lives in close contact with humans in an unnatural, stressful environment.

Big cats learn to obey commands because they’re afraid of being whipped.

Elephants are frequently beaten with bullhooks, heavy batons with a sharp metal hook on one end sometimes until they bleed, in order to force them to perform dangerous, uncomfortable tricks, such as standing on their head or on a small pedestal.

 

When not training or performing, animals are kept chained or caged, with barely enough space to take a step in any direction.

 

While they’re being hauled around the country from venue to venue, animals may be crammed into tractor trailers for days on end. These trucks are usually cramped, filthy, sweltering, and poorly ventilated. An elephant named Heather died from heat exhaustion in a tractor trailer.

 

Animals in circuses become despondent and depressed, and most develop abnormal behavior patterns, including swaying, head-bobbing, and incessant pacing. Sometimes, they even harm themselves.

 

They’re denied everything that gives their lives meaning, such as the opportunity to run, play, or socialize.

 

Animals have snapped when they became overwhelmed by the stress of circus life, going on rampages and causing property damage and even human deaths and injuries. The animals often pay for this with their lives.

This petition had 8,849 supporters

The Issue

Millions of animals are being tortured and forced to perform at circuses, a circus should only be trained humans not something that belongs to the wild. But remember there are so many entertaining circuses that don’t exploit animals, attend them instead. 

Many animals used in circuses are bred in captivity and will spend their entire lives in close contact with humans in an unnatural, stressful environment.

Big cats learn to obey commands because they’re afraid of being whipped.

Elephants are frequently beaten with bullhooks, heavy batons with a sharp metal hook on one end sometimes until they bleed, in order to force them to perform dangerous, uncomfortable tricks, such as standing on their head or on a small pedestal.

 

When not training or performing, animals are kept chained or caged, with barely enough space to take a step in any direction.

 

While they’re being hauled around the country from venue to venue, animals may be crammed into tractor trailers for days on end. These trucks are usually cramped, filthy, sweltering, and poorly ventilated. An elephant named Heather died from heat exhaustion in a tractor trailer.

 

Animals in circuses become despondent and depressed, and most develop abnormal behavior patterns, including swaying, head-bobbing, and incessant pacing. Sometimes, they even harm themselves.

 

They’re denied everything that gives their lives meaning, such as the opportunity to run, play, or socialize.

 

Animals have snapped when they became overwhelmed by the stress of circus life, going on rampages and causing property damage and even human deaths and injuries. The animals often pay for this with their lives.

Petition Updates

Share this petition

Petition created on March 30, 2019