Do u believe its ok 2 use wild animals like elephants & lions for entertainment?

@babykay (2131)
Ireland
October 6, 2007 12:59pm CST
Circuses use many wild animals for "entertainment" purposes. These include llamas, snakes, tigers, alligators, camels and elephants. Frequently the methods used to train these animals are very cruel. Notwithstanding this, circuses cannot provide a good environment for these animals to be in, as wild animals naturally roam great distances as well as hunt and care for their young. When animals can't behave the way they are designed to, this causes them much frustration. I don't see any justification or need for wild animals to be used for entertainment and I struggle to understand why anyone would find the sight of a great beast such as an elephant, performing demeaning and unnatural tricks to be fun in any way. What do you think??
3 people like this
6 responses
• Netherlands
7 Oct 07
I don't think that these animals should be used or entertainment. The should be living free in nature. Look at the bears who are dancing for money. The are trained at firebriks. Very cruel. Most off the animals in the circus are treated very good but that doesn't mean the have a happy live. I know they don't know better but the should be living freely.
1 person likes this
@babykay (2131)
• Ireland
9 Oct 07
Dancing bears, that's just barbaric, nobody can deny this.
@laurika (4532)
• United States
6 Oct 07
I don't think it is really that great.I think the animals are putting to a lot of stress and I am sure it is not normal situation for them be in front of some much people.I am sure they are good trained, btu isn't it only useing them?I think so.I am kind of sorry for them, they cannot talk and tell us they don't like it,they wanted be free and live normal life in nature.
1 person likes this
@babykay (2131)
• Ireland
9 Oct 07
yes but the methods used are so cruel, its just not right to make wild animals do these stupid tricks.
@ssh123 (31073)
• India
6 Oct 07
Thanks to animals activists, a greater awareness is created among the people who are indulging in circus and similar activities for their livelihood, using animals, giving them torture, giving them less food to make them listen to. In 1940's adn 1950s circus was famous for this. Though people enjoyed, now people do not like tourtues meted to these less fortunate animals. Even the forest departments are imposting a lot of restrictions. We have to thank the activities who are working for welfare of animals who made such a big hue and cry things are shaping up towards positive thinking on this aspect.
1 person likes this
@babykay (2131)
• Ireland
6 Oct 07
yes indeed, it is thanks to animal activists who have highlighted the animal abuse that we all now know what goes on behind the closed doors of circuses. Which is also why there is little excuse for patronizing such places!
• United States
7 Oct 07
Actually I didnt think of it like that. Well I think if they take care of the animals I guess its okay. On the other hand, they should have places to roam. So I am inbetween. I think its okay but they better be taken care of and have times to roam as well. But I love animals and never thought it was bad as a kid to see the circus. I havent been to one in ages. Truly.
@babykay (2131)
• Ireland
9 Oct 07
by the very nature of what a circus is all about, it is completely impossible for them to take care of the animals. Wild animals are never going to be happy performing silly and pathetic tricks. http://circuswatchwa.org/news/parents_boycott_circuses.htm
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
6 Oct 07
Well, I went to the circus one time in my life. I was a child at the time. I had to be under ten years of age, but after that experience I could never think of anything worth going back for. It was not very appealing to me. As far as animals being abused while in training, I am sure that that happens a lot. I do not like the idea of it and I do not see the point of subjecting animals to cruelty for the amusement of anyone. However, the Bible gave us dominion over animals, and apparently it is okay to be cruel to some animals and not others.
@babykay (2131)
• Ireland
7 Oct 07
Well we might have dominion over animals but its not ok to be cruel for the purposes of entertainment. If it were for food tbat would be a different matter.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
7 Oct 07
This world no longer has the untamed places that favour wild animal life. We hear about declining populations of wild animals around the world. ON the other hand, many Zoos around the world are learning how to breed and care for threatened species. The chinese Panda bear is an example of an animal that without human intervention would have soon become extinct. Its a choice we have to make, either allow the animals to be free until they are lost forever, or learn to breed, and care for them in a zoo or circus.The use of wild animals as Entertainment can be justified. When people see these animals in real life they realise their money is being well spent on care and breeding.I just returned from East Asia where I was fortunate enough to ride an Elephant. This was the thrill of a lifetime, and a chance to get up close and personal with a Huge but Gentle Creature. God Bless the Elephants!
@babykay (2131)
• Ireland
9 Oct 07
God bless the elephants indeed, but how you can compare a zoo (where the animals are allowed to live in relative peace) to a circus where there are cruel methods used to make animals perform tricks completely alien to them. An example of this is tigers being made jump through hoops of fire, electric shocks, denial of food are used to make them do these things. Elephants are "trained" using even worse methods such as metal bullhooks, whips etc http://circuswatchwa.org/news/parents_boycott_circuses.htm Zoo's and conservation places are COMPLETELY different to a circus my friend.