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The circus has been all the rage this Christmas period in more ways than one. The arguments are twofold, our right as humans to be entertained by exotic animals and the right of these animals to be free. We asked two animal activists to explain their opposition to animal circuses.

Animal slavery or amusement?

By Marika Mizzi and Michael Pearson

Animal circuses belong to the pages of history books along with bear baiting and human freak shows.

The main cruelty is in the training of the animals that perform. These animals are wild by origin and instinct. Animal behaviourists - and undercover filming supports this - know that wild animals do not have the need for human companionship and approval in the way that a dog might. Therefore the only way to train them is by use of the fear-response system. And to inflict fear on an animal to make it perform unnatural acts for profit is not acceptable.

The ‘argument’ that they are not wild animals because they may have been born in captivity is erroneous; the animals are born with all their wild instincts just as a human born into slavery would have the desire and right to be free.

Training and performing are not the only cruelties that a circus animal has to suffer. Circus animals are deprived of a natural habitat, the ability to express normal behaviour patterns, live in social family groupings. They are also confined for long periods of time in travelling cages, or in cages at the circus venue. It is also quite often the case that natural hunter and prey, such as tigers and zebras, will be in close proximity. The stress on animal of being aware through smell and sound of its predator, but not being able to use its natural instinct to escape, must be severe.

Finally there are those who claim that we somehow have a right to see these exotic animals, and this is our only chance. In fact this justification was used in the days before TV as a way of promoting the spectacle. This is an arrogant attitude assuming that we as humans have the right to see everything we want to see, and that it has to be brought to us for that purpose. The vast choice of TV channels now devoted to wildlife makes it simple to see these creatures living a natural life in their natural habitat.

The trend around the world, based on animal welfare concerns, is increasingly for the banning of circuses with animals. There is of course an alternative; this year we have a circus at Manoel Island, with no animals. We encourage the promoter of the animal circus to next year bring an animal-free one, the tradition of circus at Christmas can then continue, but without cruelty to animals.

The authors are the Directors of World Animal Conscience