Editing Circus (section)

===Animal acts===
[[File:Female animal trainer and leopard.jpg|thumb|Female [[Lion taming|lion tamer]] and leopard]]
[[File:CircusElephantsLA.jpg|thumb|[[Elephant]]s from Cole Brothers Circus parade through downtown Los Angeles, 1953]]
[[File:Cirkus Safari u Čakovcu - konji.jpg|thumb|Circus [[horse]] act]]

The earliest involvement of animals in circus was just the display of exotic creatures in a [[menagerie]]. Going as far back as the early eighteenth century, exotic animals were transported to North America for display, and menageries were a popular form of entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history-magazine.com/kk/circuses.html |title=The history of circus in the US, ''HistoryMagazine'' |publisher=History-magazine.com |access-date=20 April 2012  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414221351/http://www.history-magazine.com/kk/circuses.html |archive-date=14 April 2012 }}</ref> The first true animals acts in the circus were equestrian acts. Soon elephants and big cats were displayed as well. [[Isaac A. Van Amburgh]] entered a cage with several big cats in 1833, and is generally considered to be the first wild animal trainer in American circus history.<ref name="circusinamerica" /> [[Mabel Stark]] was a famous female tiger-tamer.

====Controversy and laws====
{{Split section|Circuses and animal cruelty|discuss=Talk:Circus#Splitting proposal |date=March 2021}}
{{Animal rights sidebar}}
[[File:Circus baby elephant training.jpg|thumb|Circus baby elephant training]]
[[File:Elephant3AtaydeFeria09.JPG|thumbnail|Elephant act at a 2009 circus in [[Pachuca]], [[Hidalgo (state)|Hidalgo]], Mexico. In December 2014, as a response to reports of animal mistreatment, the [[Mexican Congress]] passed a law banning the use of animals in any circus in the country.<ref name=Foxlat>{{cite web|title=Wild things: Mexico struggles to find new homes for outlawed circus animals|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2015/03/18/wild-things-mexico-struggles-to-find-new-homes-for-outlawed-circus-animals/|publisher=Fox News Latino|access-date=19 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521061922/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2015/03/18/wild-things-mexico-struggles-to-find-new-homes-for-outlawed-circus-animals/|archive-date=21 May 2015}}</ref> The law set fines for violations and required circuses to submit lists of the wildlife they possessed, which would then be made available to zoos interested in taking the animals.<ref name= Foxlat/>]]

[[Animal rights]] groups have documented many cases of [[Cruelty to animals#Circuses|animal cruelty]] in the training of performing circus animals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/2004_HSUS_Circus_Incidents.pdf |title=Circus Incidents: Attacks, Abuse and Property Damage |publisher=[[Humane Society of the United States]] |date=1 June 2004 |access-date=23 May 2008  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528102028/http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/2004_HSUS_Circus_Incidents.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/circuses.aspx |title=Circuses |date=17 February 2011 |publisher=PETA.org |access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref> The animal rights group [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]] (PETA) contends that animals in circuses are frequently beaten into submission and that physical abuse has always been the method for training circus animals. It is also alleged that the animals are kept in cages that are too small and are given very little opportunity to walk around outside of their enclosure, thereby violating their right to freedom.

====United States====
According to PETA, although the US [[Animal Welfare Act of 1966|Animal Welfare Act]] does not permit any sort of punishment that puts the animals in discomfort,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm |title=Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations |publisher=Nal.usda.gov |access-date=20 April 2012  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416104435/http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm |archive-date=16 April 2009 }}</ref> trainers will still go against this law and use such things as electric rods and [[bullhook]]s.<ref name=abuse>{{cite web|url=http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=66 |title=Circuses: Three Rings of Abuse |publisher=Peta.org |access-date=20 April 2012  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726045752/http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=66 |archive-date=26 July 2010 }}</ref> According to PETA, during an undercover investigation of Carson & Barnes Circus, video footage was captured showing animal care director Tim Frisco training endangered Asian elephants with electrical shock prods and instructing other trainers to "beat the elephants with a [[bullhook]] as hard as they can and sink the sharp metal hook into the elephant's flesh and twist it until they scream in pain".<ref name=abuse/>

On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Netherlands, [[Wageningen University and Research Centre|Wageningen University]] conducted an investigation into the welfare of circus animals in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/bestanden/documenten-en-publicaties/kamerstukken/2008/02/19/onderzoek-circusdieren/20080219-dl-2008-344.pdf|date=19 February 2008|title=19 february 2008 – Projectvoorstel Ministerie LNV onderzoek welzijn circusdieren|access-date=19 April 2013}}</ref> The following issues, among others, were found:

* 71% of the observed animals had medical problems.
* 33% of tigers and lions did not have access to an outdoor enclosure.
* Lions spend on average 98% of their time indoors.
* An average enclosure for tigers is only 5 m<sup>2</sup>.
* Elephants are shackled in chains for 17 hours a day on average.
* Elephants spend on average 10 hours a day showing [[Stereotypy (non-human)|stereotypic behaviour]].
* Tigers are terrified of fire but are still forced to jump through fire rings.
* Since 1990 there have been over 123 cases of lion attacks at circuses.
* Animals are trained through discipline.{{clarify|date=April 2017}}

Based on these findings, the researchers called for more stringent regulation regarding the welfare of circus animals. In 2012, the Dutch government announced a ban on the use of wild circus animals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eturbonews.com/32034/dutch-government-announces-ban-use-wild-animals-circuses|title=Dutch government announces ban on the use of wild animals in circuses|date=1 November 2012|access-date=19 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514200606/http://www.eturbonews.com/32034/dutch-government-announces-ban-use-wild-animals-circuses|archive-date=14 May 2013}}</ref>

In testimony in [[U.S. District Court]] in 2009, [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus]] CEO [[Kenneth Feld]] acknowledged that circus elephants are struck behind the ears, under the chin and on their legs with metal tipped prods, called bullhooks. Feld stated that these practices are necessary to protect circus workers. Feld also acknowledged that an elephant trainer was reprimanded for using an electric shock device, known as a hot shot or electric prod, on an elephant, which Feld also stated was appropriate practice. Feld denied that any of these practices harm elephants.<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iIvnEu-D_CqeGOboBYNAvQvp8EvQD96MTJS80 Circus CEO says elephants are struck, but not hurt]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In its January 2010 verdict on the case, brought against Feld Entertainment International by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals et al., the Court ruled that evidence against the circus company was "not credible with regard to the allegations".<ref>Court Record, United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Civil Action No 03-2006 (EGS)</ref> In lieu of a [[USDA]] hearing, [[Feld Entertainment, Inc.|Feld Entertainment Inc]]. (parent of Ringling Bros.) agreed to pay an unprecedented $270,000 fine for violations of the Animal Welfare Act that allegedly occurred between June 2007 and August 2011.<ref>Leigh Remizowski, [https://web.archive.org/web/20111201121216/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-11-29/us/us_ringling-bros-fine_1_animal-welfare-act-usda-cruelty?_s=PM:US "USDA Fines Ringling Bros. Circus Over Treatment of Animals], " CNN 29 November 2011.</ref>

A 14-year litigation against the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to an end in 2014 when [[The Humane Society of the United States]] and a number of other animal rights groups paid a $16 million settlement to Feld Entertainment; however, the circus closed in May 2017 after a 146-year run when it experienced a steep decline in ticket sales a year after it discontinued its elephant act and sent its [[Pachydermata|pachyderm]]s to a reserve.<ref>{{cite news|first=Thomas|last=Heath|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/ringling-circus-prevails-in-14-year-legal-case-collects-16m-from-humane-society-others/2014/05/16/50ce00b8-dd15-11e3-8009-71de85b9c527_story.html|title=Ringling Circus prevails in 14-year legal case; collects $16M from Humane Society, others|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=16 May 2014|access-date=12 June 2017}}</ref><ref>(1) {{cite news|first=Amy B|last=Wang|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2017/01/15/animal-activists-finally-have-something-to-applaud-at-the-ringling-bros-circus-its-closure/|title=Animal activists finally have something to applaud at Ringling Bros. circus: Its closure|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=15 January 2017|access-date=12 June 2017|quote=In 2015, Ringling Bros. announced it would stop using elephants in its shows. The lumbering mammals delivered their final performances last May — dancing, spinning and standing on pedestals at the command of the ringmaster — and then were retired to a reserve in central Florida. The move exacerbated the show's demise; the elephants' departure ultimately expedited what was a 'difficult business decision'. 'Ringling Bros. ticket sales have been declining, but following the transition of the elephants off the road, we saw an even more dramatic drop', Kenneth Feld said in a statement Saturday. 'This, coupled with high operating costs, made the circus an unsustainable business for the company.'}}<br />(2) {{cite news|first=Karin|last=Brulliard|date=21 May 2017|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/thunderous-applause-tears-as-the-greatest-show-on-earth-takes-a-final-bow/2017/05/21/f75dbf26-3bd7-11e7-a058-ddbb23c75d82_story.html|title=Thunderous applause, tears as the 'greatest show on Earth' takes a final bow|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=12 June 2017|quote=... Ringling had become the target of animal protection groups that claimed it mistreated its elephants, and the two sides soon locked in a 14-year legal battle so cutthroat it involved secret informants paid by animal groups and a former CIA official who was paid by Ringling's parent company, Feld Entertainment, to spy on activists and a journalist. The litigation ended with several animal groups paying a $16 million settlement to Feld. While the animal activists never prevailed against Ringling in court, they were victorious outside. The allegations of elephant abuse prompted municipalities around the country to ban elephant bullhooks — a sharp metal tool used by handlers — or to prohibit wild animal performances altogether, as Los Angeles recently moved to do. After Ringling retired its last pachyderms to a company-owned elephant conservation center in Florida, ticket sales declined much more than Feld expected, and the company announced in January that Ringling would close for good.}}</ref>

On 1 February 1992 at the Great American Circus in [[Palm Bay, Florida]], an elephant named Janet (1965 – 1 February 1992) went out of control while giving a ride to a mother, her two children, and three other children. The elephant then stampeded through the circus grounds outside before being shot to death by police.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19930506&id=jfgNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X3sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6834,42417|title=Elephant incidents in recent years|date=6 May 1993|author=St. Petersburg Times|access-date=19 April 2010}}</ref> Also, during a Circus International performance in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]], on 20 August 1994, an elephant called [[Tyke (elephant)|Tyke]] (1974 – 20 August 1994) killed her trainer, [[Allen Campbell]], and severely mauled her groomer, Dallas Beckwith, in front of hundreds of spectators. Tyke then bolted from the arena and ran through the streets of [[Kakaako]] for more than thirty minutes. Police fired 86 shots at Tyke, who eventually collapsed from the wounds and died.<ref name="hawthorn">{{cite web | url = http://www.circuses.com/fact-hawthorn.asp | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041013182206/http://www.circuses.com/fact-hawthorn.asp  | archive-date = 13 October 2004 | title = Hawthorn Corporation | publisher = Circuses.com }}</ref>

In December 2018, New Jersey became the first state in the U.S. to ban circuses, carnivals and fairs from featuring elephants, tigers, and other exotic animals.<ref>Megan Burrow, "New Jersey becomes first state to ban wild animal circus acts", ''[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/12/15/noseys-law-new-jersey-becomes-first-ban-wild-animal-circus-acts/2323388002/ North Jersey Record]'', 15 December 2018.</ref>

====England====
In 1998 in the United Kingdom, a parliamentary working group chaired by MP [[Roger Gale]] studied living conditions and treatment of animals in UK circuses. All members of this group agreed that a change in the law was needed to protect circus animals. Gale told the BBC, "It's undignified and the conditions under which they are kept are woefully inadequate—the cages are too small, the environments they live in are not suitable and many of us believe the time has come for that practice to end." The group reported concerns about boredom and stress, and noted that an independent study by a member of the [[Wildlife Conservation Research Unit]] at [[Oxford University]] "found no evidence that circuses contribute to education or conservation."; however, in 2007, a different working group under the UK [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]], having reviewed information from experts representing both the circus industry and animal welfare, found an absence of "scientific evidence sufficient to demonstrate that travelling circuses are not compatible with meeting the welfare needs of any type of non-domesticated animal presently being used in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/201483.stm |title=UK Politics Protect circus animals call |work=BBC News |date=26 October 1998 |access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref>" According to that group's report, published in October 2007, "there appears to be little evidence to demonstrate that the welfare of animals kept in travelling circuses is any better or any worse than that of animals kept in other captive environments."<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20091106081209/http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/documents/circus-report.pdf "Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses: The Report of the Chairman of the Circus Working Group".] UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. October 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2010.</ref>

A ban prohibiting the use of wild animals in circuses in England was due to be passed in 2015, but Conservative MP [[Christopher Chope]] repeatedly blocked the bill under the reasoning that "The EU Membership Costs and Benefits bill should have been called by the clerk before the circuses bill, so I raised a point of order". He explained that the circus bill was "at the bottom of the list" for discussion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11602645.Anger_after_bill_to_ban_wild_animals_in_circuses_is_blocked_by_MP_Chris_Chope/|title=Anger after bill to ban wild animals in circuses is blocked by MP Chris Chope|website=Bournemouth Echo|date=14 November 2014 |access-date=22 May 2017}}</ref> The [[Animal Defenders International]] non-profit group dubbed this "a huge embarrassment for Britain that 30 other nations have taken action before us on this simple and popular measure".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ad-international.org/media_centre/go.php?id=3858&si=12|title=Cameron urged to keep circus ban promise as Conservative MP blocks bill for eighth time|website=[[Animal Defenders International]]|access-date=22 May 2017}}</ref> On 1 May 2019 Environmental Secretary Michael Gove announced a new Bill to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gove-delivers-legislation-to-ban-wild-animals-in-circuses "Gove delivers legislation to ban wild animals in circuses".] UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.</ref> The [[Wild Animals in Circuses Act 2019]] came into effect on 20 January 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=4 – Extent, commencement and short title |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/24/section/4/enacted |website=[[Legislation.gov.uk]] |access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref>

====Wales====

A [[Act of the Senedd|bill]] to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in [[Wales]] was introduced in June 2019, and subsequently passed by the [[Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament|Welsh Parliament]] on 15 July 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Use of wild animals in circuses to be banned in Wales after Bill passed |url=https://gov.wales/use-wild-animals-circuses-be-banned-wales-after-bill-passed#:~:text=Hide%20message-,Use%20of%20wild%20animals%20in%20circuses%20to%20be%20banned%20in,been%20passed%20by%20the%20Senedd. |website=Welsh Government | date=15 July 2020 |access-date=23 April 2021}}</ref> Over 6,500 responses were made by the people of Wales, to the public consultation on the draft Bill, 97% of which supported the ban.

====Scotland====
The use of wild animals in travelling circuses has been banned in Scotland. The Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Act 2018 came into force on 28 May 2018.

====Worldwide====
[[File:Donghai Island - P1570707 - Dongshan Town - circus.JPG|thumb|Tigers in a transport cage in a travelling circus]]
There are nationwide bans on using some if not all animals in circuses in Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lp&itemid=26088&l=1 | title=Leġiżlazzjoni Malta }}</ref><ref name=adinternational/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkish-parliament-approves-animal-rights-bill/2298867 |title=Turkish parliament approves animal rights bill |agency=Anadolu Agency |date=9 July 2021 |access-date=11 August 2021}}</ref> Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have locally restricted or banned the use of animals in entertainment.<ref name=adinternational>{{cite web|url=http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=281&ssi=10|title=Worldwide circus bans|first=Animal Defenders|last=International.|website=Animal Defenders International|access-date=22 May 2017}}</ref> In response to a growing popular concern about the use of animals in entertainment, animal-free circuses are becoming more common around the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.circuses.com/pdfs/AnimalFreeCircuses.pdf |title=Elephant Rampages |publisher=Circuses.com |access-date=20 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410004446/http://www.circuses.com/pdfs/AnimalFreeCircuses.pdf |archive-date=10 April 2008  }}</ref> In 2009, Bolivia passed legislation banning the use of any animals, wild or domestic, in circuses. The law states that circuses "constitute an act of cruelty." Circus operators had one year from the bill's passage on 1 July 2009 to comply.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/latinamerica/6555306.html |title=Bolivia bans use of animals in circuses | date=31 July 2009|agency =Associated Press| access-date =31 July 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> In 2018 in Germany, an accident with an elephant during a circus performance prompted calls to ban animal performances in circuses. PETA called the German politicians to outlaw the keeping of animals for circuses.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/circus-elephant-falls-into-crowd-germany-cruelty-to-animals-osnabruck-a8436166.html|title=Circus elephant falls into audience in Germany|work=The Independent |date=8 July 2018 |access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref>

A survey confirmed that on average, wild animals spend around 99 to 91 percent of their time in cages, wagons, or enclosure due to transportation. This causes a huge amount of distress to animals and leads to excessive amounts of drooling.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17169-circus-captivity-is-beastly-for-wild-animals/|title=Circus captivity is beastly for wild animals|work=New Scientist|access-date=24 April 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

City ordinances banning performances by wild animals have been enacted in [[San Francisco]] (2015),<ref>{{cite news|last= Berg |first= Emmett |title= San Francisco board approves wild animal performance ban |date= 21 April 2015 |access-date= 23 June 2017 |work= [[Reuters]] |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-circus-california-idUSKBN0NC2G720150421}}</ref> [[Los Angeles]] (2017),<ref>{{cite news|last= Good |first= Kate |title= Los Angeles Bans Use of Wild Animals for Entertainment |date= 26 April 2017 |access-date= 23 June 2017 |website= One Green Planet |url= http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/los-angeles-bans-use-of-wild-animals-for-entertainment/}}</ref> and [[New York City]] (2017).<ref>{{cite news|last= Pacelle |first= Wayne |author-link= Wayne Pacelle |title= New York City bans use of wild animals in circuses |date= 21 June 2017 |access-date= 23 June 2017 |url= http://blog.humanesociety.org/wayne/2017/06/breaking-news-new-york-city-bans-use-wild-animals-circuses.html}}</ref>

Greece became the first European country to ban any animal from performing in any circus in its territory in February 2012, following a campaign by [[Animal Defenders International]] and the Greek Animal Welfare Fund (GAWF).<ref>[http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=2528&ssi=10 Greece bans animal circuses], Animal Defenders International</ref>

On 6 June 2015, the [[Federation of Veterinarians of Europe]] adopted a position paper in which it recommends the prohibition of the use of [[Wildlife|wild animals]] in travelling circuses.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.fve.org/uploads/publications/docs/fve_position_on_the_travelling_circuses_adopted_final.pdf|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020236/http://www.fve.org/uploads/publications/docs/fve_position_on_the_travelling_circuses_adopted_final.pdf|archive-date = 24 September 2015|title = FVE position on the use of animals in travelling circuses|website = Federation of Veterinarians of Europe|series = FVE/013/pos/007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/596390/vets-Europe-animal-acts-circus|title = Vets call for complete ban on wild animal acts in circuses across Europe|last = Winter|first = Stuart|date = 5 August 2015|work = Express.co.uk|access-date = 8 August 2015}}</ref>

Despite the contemporary circus's shift toward more theatrical techniques and its emphasis on human rather than animal performance, traditional circus companies still exist alongside the new movement. Numerous circuses continue to maintain animal performers, including [[UniverSoul Circus]] and the [[Big Apple Circus]] from the United States, [[Circus Krone]] from Munich, [[Circus Royale]] and [[Lennon Bros Circus]] from Australia, [[Vazquez Hermanos Circus]], Circo Atayde Hermanos, and Hermanos Mayaror Circus<ref>{{cite web|last=Duckman |first=Hank |url=http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/334-hermanos-mayar-circus |title=Hermanos Mayar Circus by Hank Duckman |publisher=Mexconnect.com |date=1 January 2006 |access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref> from Mexico, and [[Moira Orfei]] Circus<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moiranonsolocirco.it/ |title=Moira Orfei Circo official website |publisher=Moiranonsolocirco.it |access-date=20 April 2012 |archive-date=23 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423113015/http://www.moiranonsolocirco.it/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> from Italy, to name just a few.