All news
Cramped cages, beatings and loneliness: should animal circuses be banned? Video
The discussion about the use of animals in circus performances has become more active in Russia. The discussion began after the publication of video footage from rehearsals of famous trainers, brothers Edgard and Askold Zapashny. In connection with this, a bill banning animal performances in circuses has been submitted to the State Duma. Should this be banned and what do animals experience in circus conditions – in the URA.RU article.
Circus situation and global trends in the Russian Federation
A video of a rehearsal with animals at the Great Moscow Circus has caused a public outcry. The recording shows the Zapasini brothers using whips, throwing objects at animals, and pouring water on lions and tigers, among other actions. After this, the brothers were invited to the State Duma to give an explanation. Edgard Zapashny spoke about the situation, emphasizing similar international experience and the absence of scandals in other countries. He noted that Russian circus performers perform in more than 30 countries around the world and that there has been no scandal related to the alleged beating of animals anywhere outside the Russian Federation. He noted that cases of using force against animals are extremely rare and necessary.
This situation became the reason for introducing a bill to the State Duma to ban circus performances with animals. The development of such a law was initiated by the representative of the New People party, Alexey Nechayev, together with the vice-speaker of the State Duma, Vladislav Davankov. The initiative contains amendments to Article 15 of the law "On responsible treatment of animals and some changes to the legislation of the Russian Federation", regulating the use of animals in cultural events. Politicians propose to exclude the mention of circuses from this and other related articles of the law. A petition with similar demands has collected about 35 thousand signatures.
In addition, according to the SuperJob study, every second resident of the Russian Federation is against the use of animals in circus performances. Thus, 41% of respondents believed that the participation of both wild and domestic animals in circuses should be banned, and 11% only protested against the exploitation of wild animals. Among women, 45% supported the idea of a complete ban on the use of animals in circuses, and 13% opposed the use of only wild animals. Men are less animalistic (38% and 10%, respectively). In addition, people with a salary of up to 50 thousand rubles are more likely to support a ban on the use of animals in circus performances than wealthier Russians.
There is a worldwide trend towards reducing or completely banning circus performances involving animals. More than 40 countries have already introduced partial or complete restrictions on such shows. The main objection concerns training methods that starve animals and punish them by forcing them to perform unnatural tasks.
The carrot and stick method is used to train animals for circus performances, where animals are brought to rehearsals or performances hungry. If the animal disobeys or does not understand the necessary actions, it will go without food until the next rehearsal. Such methods can lead to exhausted animals being forced to perform tricks in exchange for food, and disobedience will be punished.
Animals that cannot be trained or are “unusable” are often sent to traveling zoos or hunting dog training centers. Additionally, those that grow old or lose their stage presence may be euthanized or sold to zoos, where they spend the rest of their lives in cramped cages.
Circus animals spend most of their lives in cages, leaving only short periods of time for performances and training. This means that they have only an hour and a half a day for activity on the field, and the rest of the time they spend in a confined space. Enclosures for animals are usually extremely limited in size. For example, the footprint of lions and tigers is approximately 2.1 x 1.3 x 1.3 meters, and the footprint of polar bears is 2.4 x 1.5 x 1.7 meters. The dimensions of the cages for brown bears are significantly smaller. It measures only about 1 meter in width, height, and length. The main reason for these restrictions is the lack of free space in circus facilities to create more spacious conditions.
The Life and Liberation Story of Sanyu, the Caged Bear
A bear named Sanya spent almost 20 years in prison-like conditions, without a roof or escape. His story takes place in Astrakhan, where he first performed in a traveling circus and then moved to a tourist camp to entertain visitors. Sanya had to spend the winter in a tightly closed cage. Hay was fed to him through a grate, and in the summer, the accumulated garbage was washed away with a hose.
When the previous owner of the camp died, the new owner did not want to take care of the bear. Volunteers got to work and saved the animals by sawing the cages with a grinder. Sanya moved to a new, spacious house where she could live in more suitable conditions, RT reports.
Circus animals suffer not only from limited physical space, but also from a lack of social interaction. In their natural habitat, many species, such as monkeys and elephants, live in groups and interact with each other actively. In circuses, they are often isolated, which causes stress and leads to stereotypical behaviors, such as monotonous rocking or walking in circles. Animals cannot escape the monotony of their environment by reading or other activities that humans can do. Their psychological and physical health depends on new experiences and long daily travel. Circus life deprives them of this opportunity.
Moving animals between cities during travel is another source of stress. Transportation takes place in cramped, unventilated carriages or vans, where conditions can be extremely harsh due to extreme temperatures. This situation sometimes leads to the death of the animal en route.
Dolphinariums became widespread after the success of the American television series about Flipper the Dolphin, which delighted viewers in the 1960s. However, this popularity led to the creation of hundreds of dolphinariums around the world. Dolphin shows may seem harmless because of the animals' constantly smiling faces. In fact, this is just an anatomical feature. In captivity, dolphins are deprived of reasons for joy from the moment of capture, when they experience stress and separation from their families. After that, those who survive are sent to a dolphinarium, where artificial conditions await them: tiled walls, chlorinated water and dead fish.
Rick O'Barry, the dolphin trainer who played Flipper in the series, realized his mistake and dedicated his life to fighting the dolphin industry. He describes natural phenomena and the life of dolphins in captivity, deprived of the opportunity to use their natural abilities. According to him, dolphins were turned into clowns for the entertainment of people, which had no cultural or educational value. O'Barry also emphasizes that showing children animals in captivity is not only useless, but also harmful, since it fosters a cruel attitude towards nature. He argues that teaching a child to respect living creatures is as important for a child's development as the animals themselves.
While an immediate ban or radical change in the Russian animal entertainment industry is impossible, consumers can influence demand by choosing alternative leisure activities. It is important to explain to children that wild animals are not toys and have their own needs and interests. Oksana Danilova, an expert at the Bioethics for Children project, suggested several options for replacing circuses and dolphinariums. • Animal shelters. Participation in the life of a shelter can teach children compassion and responsibility. • Rehabilitation centers for wild animals – Here you can help animals that have suffered at the hands of humans, which also helps children develop empathy, Mel reports.
Alternatives include online resources and modern technology. So, with the help of online cameras and films, you can study the behavior of animals in their real habitat via the Internet. But virtual reality and holographic projection are also safe and educational ways to study animals.
Circuses create conditions where animals do not have to find the food and water they need in the wild. The enclosures are modernized for greater convenience, insulated in winter, and provided with regular feeding and walks. Qualified specialists monitor the health of the animals.
The animals are provided with comfortable conditions when moving during the tour. Travel time is limited, there are regular stops for rest and feeding, and temperature control. A trainer or assistant accompanies the animal to minimize stress.
In addition, in the wild, animals are exposed to risks such as predators, natural disasters, food shortages, and diseases. They can also become victims of poaching. Circuses protect animals from such threats.
Circus activities involve physical activity of animals through tricks and performances. This will help you to show your intelligence and energy and even prevent boredom caused by depression.
On August 30, 2015, in the sports complex of the village of Abrau-Dyurso, circus artist Anastasia Maksimova fell from the saddle while performing acrobatic tricks on a horse and was dragged across the arena by the animal. On the stand. Maksimova received several kicks from a hoof, including to the head. Despite the quick actions of doctors, she died from her injuries while being transported in an ambulance.
Anastasia Maksimova was an experienced equestrian and horse riding athlete, with 6 years of experience and numerous awards. He won a silver medal at the 2012 World Championships. Investigating the incident, experts suggested that the cause of the accident was a violation of safety regulations. One of the girl's legs got stuck in the ring, preventing her from getting off the horse in time.
Tiger incident during Moscow Circus performance
In 2006, a serious incident occurred during a performance by trainer Artur Bagdasarov at the Moscow Nikulin Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. The trainer tried to push a tiger towards a group of animals with a stick, but approached the predator too suddenly. When the man raised his hand, the tiger stood on its hind legs, knocked the man down onto the arena and stomped on his head with its teeth. Attempts to scare the predator away with a whip were unsuccessful, and a shot from a gun in the air was enough to make the tiger retreat. As a result of the incident, the trainer received about 100 stitches on his head. It was decided not to punish the tiger, who was stressed and temporarily refused to eat. The cause of the accident was recognized as the trainer's violation of safety regulations.
On February 24, 2010, 40-year-old trainer Dawn Brancheau was attacked by the orca Tilikum during a performance at SeaWorld Orlando. The animal grabbed the woman by the hair and dragged her into the water. An autopsy was performed following the incident, and the results showed that Trainor had suffered multiple injuries, including a broken jaw, a fractured spine, broken ribs, and a partial amputation of the skull.
This is not the first time a human has died due to Tilikum. The animal has previously killed another trainer in Canada, as well as a homeless person who fell into a pool with the whale in 1999.
In 2012, a tragedy occurred: a tiger killed its trainer during a performance by a Mexican circus. The incident began with the animal tearing the man's pants, causing laughter from the audience. However, the tiger later attacked the artist, causing the man to die from pain shock.
In Kislovodsk, at an exhibition of Yaroslav Zapashny, a famous trainer and cousin of the Zapashny brothers, a fight between tigers occurred. Experts suggest that unusually warm weather in the south of the Russian Federation could have caused an early start to the hunting season for a 9-year-old white tigress named Gina. She attacked the older tiger Era, seriously injuring him. Veterinarians did everything possible to save the life of the wounded Gina.