Circuses have been seen as a hub for family memories and a fun experience for kids to go see animals and people preform for them, there is often a positive connotation attached to the times in which people attended the circus.  But would the circus still be seen in a positive light if the truth about the abuse and mistreatment that occurs behind its walls was to be showed, many would agree that the circus is simply a playing ground for animal abuse and maltreatment.

Animals that are seen preforming in the circus are constantly traveling from city to city without any basic necessities like enough food, water, or veterinary attention.  It is not uncommon to see malnourished circus animals being transported from one place to another in unhygienic, cramped box cars which often times can lead to their deaths before even reaching their destination.  As supported by PETA in their article “Circuses: Three Rings of Abuse”, “The animals, most of whom are quite large and naturally active, are forced to spend most of their lives in the cramped, barren cages and trailers used to transport them, where they have only enough room to stand and turn around” as well as “Elephants are kept in leg shackles that prevent them from taking more than one step in any direction”.  This just further shows the depressing conditions in which these animals are kept and the lack of care and attention they are given during the long traveling time they are forced to endure in splintered, grimy box car cages.

Additionally, not only are the conditions for travel unacceptable and neglectful towards the animals, according to the article “Enjoy the Circus?  The Animals Don’t”, “96 percent of their lives are spent in chains or cages” with “no climate control” (PETA).  Which is essential to the well-being of wild animals.  Climate control is when people or owners take into the consideration the natural climate in which certain animals live and try to maintain that climate when taking care of them.  Without the application of climate control, especially with inherently wild animals such as elephants and tigers, animals can be put under major distress and can even lead to death.  It is the equivalent of keeping a pet lizard in a cold environment knowing that they need heat to survive, it is going to be harmful for the overall well-being of the animal and could be defined as animal abuse according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

 To add on, animals are also physically abused continually as circus trainers often use physical harm to discipline circus animals into learning and preforming circus tricks that are not familiar to them by nature.  This is supported in the article “Circus Animal Abuse” when it states, “Trainers use whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks and other painful tools of the trade to force animals to perform”.  As can be seen circus animals are often shocked, whipped, or beaten with painful metal tools, and are practically beaten into submission every time they preform or are learning how to do specific tricks for their performance.  This not only takes a physical toll on the circus animals, but it also very negatively impacts the psychological well-being of these animals which often results in these circus animals snapping and lashing out on their trainers.  This inevitably leads to their euthanasian which could have very easily been avoided if these animals were simply given the adequate care and attention they need.

 Overall, using wild animals in circuses is immoral and must be stopped because the physical and psychological trauma they are forced to endure is unacceptable.  No animal should be forced to preform and provide entertainment for others at the expense of their own well-being.  Therefore, it is only right that all wild animals be taken out of the rings of abuse that are circuses.