Posted: 14 July 2008
ADI studies the use of animals in traveling circuses all over the world. Methods used include observations, videotape and photography by our field officers, who work undercover in circuses. We relate our findings to the published scientific evidence on animal welfare and behavior, to inform government or administrative decision-making (see appendix).
Together, these studies have revealed consistencies in working practices throughout the industry. Indeed the differences in working practices, animal care and training methods between the circus industries of Europe, South and North America differ in little more than presentational ways. This is not surprising, given that animal living quarters need to be completely portable so any scope for development is very limited. The tricks being taught to the animals are broadly the same; presenters and animals move throughout the industry, and the timing of shows follows the normal pattern of the working week and weekends. Trainers frequently come from Europe and South America to present animals here in the U.S.
The United States is a key circus industry base with global connections. We therefore considered that it was important to conduct a short pilot study of the U.S. circus industry, with a view to using our data and expertise to assist and inform decision-making at the local and federal government levels.
ADI field officers tracked seven major U.S. traveling circuses, one static circus in Florida, and a static circus festival in Wisconsin. The traveling circuses moved through California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia in 2003, 2004 and 2005. These were selected at random and provide a representative sampling of the different circus operations in the U.S.
We found a defensive industry in which staff instruct the public that video cameras or videophones are not allowed, they block the view of people filming, and they conduct searches. One trainer was observed checking who was watching before giving an elephant a savage beating. Our field officers observed a range of animal abuse and poor welfare.
There were also issues of public safety. We found generally poor containment of animals and/or restriction of public access to them. Both animals and members of the public are at risk when animal facilities and supervision are poor.
For example when an elephant enclosure adjoined a school playing field, there was only an electric tape, no staff member permanently on hand and no secondary barrier. In another instance, members of the public were vulnerable when feeding an elephant. One elephant had learned to test the electric fence around her enclosure and made repeated attempts to escape. When she managed to escape, she was recaptured by workers with elephant hooks. She was punished by being chained by the leg to a truck. When confined she would throw hay, dung and stones at both workers and the public. Another cause for concern were elephants being walked twice a day down a road used by traffic. One circus providing elephant rides, was walking them alongside cages full of tigers. Public safety can be an important animal welfare issue, since the security and contentment of the animals is dependant upon good accommodations and supervision when the public has access to them.
The animal suffering outlined in this report is part of a pattern of the circus industry globally. However, there are factors in the U.S. that increase the stresses, strains, suffering and ultimately the abuses that the circus animals endure.
Observations from the pilot study appear throughout this report in the panels.
The aim of this table is to provide a profile of the different species being used in U.S. circuses during our observations. It helps to provide a picture of the number and species of animals that might appear at traveling shows on any given day. A head count was taken of animals in our sample of nine circuses, with the data here representing the highest number of different animals observed on a single day at a single circus. The figure given for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is for a single touring unit in 2008 this circus has three shows touring under the unit names Red, Blue and Gold. Head counts for this table took place during visits in 2004, 2005, 2006.
Total Number of Animals
This sample indicates a high percentage of wild and exotic species (elephants and tigers are especially popular 20% of all animals in the sample), compared to domesticated species, such as dogs and ponies.
1 Introduction
2 The Traveling Environment
3 Pilot Study: Animals in Traveling Circuses in the U.S.
4 The Scientific Evidence
5 The Animal Welfare Act
6 Recommendations for Action
7 Appendix: Public Opinion
8 References