Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus has just launched its 137th edition and API is calling on concerned animal advocates across the country to continue to work together this year to bring an end to the cruelties that circus animals are forced to endure. Examples abound, including prolonged chaining and the use of bullhooks on elephants. Also, the 137th edition features 12 rare Royal Bengal and white tigers, who will spend most of the year inside small travel cages.

Efforts you make to educate people that using animals in circuses is an unnecessary and inhumane practice, harmful to both the animals and the public, make an important difference!

Click here for more information and a list of ways in which you can take action to help circus animals. Then make plans to put some or all of them into practice in 2007!

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1. Every major circus that uses animals has been cited for violating the minimal standards of care set forth in the United States Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

2. Animals in circuses spend about 11 months of the year traveling.
3. During travel, animals may be caged or chained for long distances and hours, forced to stand in their own waste, in extreme temperatures.
4. Standard circus industry training tools used on animals include bullhooks, whips, clubs, and electric prods.
5. Animals born in circus “conservation” breeding programs have never been released into the wild.
6. From 1994 to 2005, at least 31 elephants have died premature deaths in the circus. Other circus animals who have died in an untimely manner include horses and lions.
7. Captive elephant and captive feline attacks on humans in the U.S. have resulted in hundreds of injuries, many resulting in death.
8. In the wild, elephants live in large, sociable herds and walk up to 25 miles every day. Most other wild animals found in circus settings, including lions and tigers, are also constantly on the move in their native habitats. In the circus, animals spend most of their time in cages or chains.
9. Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (which enforces the AWA) have repeatedly ignored obvious physical trauma to animals, eyewitness accounts of mistreatment, and sworn testimony from former circus employees who report abuse of elephants.
10. Circuses that feature only human performers are gaining in popularity and provide dazzling, humane, and truly family-friendly entertainment.

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Have you visited any Circuses that feature big cats this year?

If you have please let me know how the big cats were treated during the performances,did you see where they are kept during the day and whilst travelling?

Thanks!

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I'm living in South Africa and the Brian Boswell Circus have come to our area. I went there just to see the animals and to see if they were ok...the horses, and goats and lion cubs seemed fine and happy. The tigers were in their trailor cages looking pretty bored and the elephants were eating and were chained. I'm so against circuses and I want to start a petition against the Boswell circus. Can anyone support me on this by giving me any pointers or direction on who I can send the completed petition to? or any info would help cause I felt so sorry for those beautiful animals, being forced into a life that isn't their choice...so so sad.

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