You may have fond memories of going to a circus as a child or seeing the animals perform neat tricks at Sea World. Many people frequent such places. However, most people do not realize the routine cruelty involved in these institutions.
Footage from Inside Ringling Brothers
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For example, circuses employ the use of physical punishment to force elephants to perform tricks. An elephant's body is not suited for the activities required of them in circuses, so it is understandable that they would resist performing the tricks. Beating the animals with instruments called bullhooks is a common tactic used to train the animals.
Animals used for entertainment are usually confined, whether in cages, shackles, or tanks ridiculously small for their body sizes. Many animal acts, such as the Miami Seaquarium, fail to meet federal welfare standards for space per animals due to lax enforcement of animal protection laws.
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Animal Abuse in Entertainment
The Shriners' Circus recently came to UCF. The animals were provided by Royal Hanneford Circus. The animals were transported in complete darkness. The horses and elephants arrived before 4:30 am on Saturday and were chained or tied so that they had little or no ability to walk until the first show started at 10:00 am. The pigs arrived later, 7 to 10 of them crammed in the back of a truck, the total area estimated at about 3 feet by 10 feet. Hanneford uses bullhooks.