Animal Cruelty: Marine Animal Exhibits

When I say, “Animals in Entertainment,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it Bullfighting? Circuses? Dogfighting? Greyhound Racing? Marine Animal Exhibits? Zoos? When somebody says, “Animals in Entertainment,” to me, I too, do think of all those things, but in a different perception. When I hear the word Bullfighting, I think of a Tragedy of Tradition. When I hear the word Circuses, I think of the Three Rings of Abuse. When I hear someone speak of Greyhound Racing, I think Death in the Fast Lane. When I hear the words Marine Animal Exhibits, I think of Chlorine Prisons. When I hear the word zoos, I think of Pitiful Prisons. The definition of “Animals in Entertainment,” refers to any animal(s) used to act, perform, fight and/or

Quite apart from the cruelty involved in training and confining these animals, the whole idea that we should enjoy the humiliating spectacle of an elephant or lion made to perform circus tricks shows a lack of respect for the animals as individuals.” That was a quote from Peter Singer, a professor of Bioethics at Princeton University who is a also a strong advocate for animal rights. Circuses were first introduced to us in Rome in the 14TH century. In the 19TH century, circuses had made its way around to Australia where the first animal shows were introduced. By the 20TH century, thousands of cases of animal cruelty had been reported from all over the world. Animal Welfare Act did set minimal standards of animal care but every major circus is known to violate these. Examples of such violation of these minimal standards are trainers being known to use bull hooks, electric prods and collars, whips and clubs. According to statistics studied by the government of Netherlands into the state of circus animals, elephants are chained 17 hours every day and lions spend 98% of their time indoors. As a result of these extremely stressful living conditions, abnormal behavior will show, tigers will begin to pace within their small confined space and elephants will start bobbing their heads. Now, I don’t know if you are going to believe me when I say this but the University of Bristol in the UK

Even the best zoos in the world cannot begin to even try replicating the natural habitat of one animal therefore; animals are often prevented from their natural behavior or doings such as running, roaming, flying, climbing, foraging, choosing a partner and being with their own kind. Zoos simply just cannot provide enough space. As saddening as it is to say this, zoos can in fact be miserable places for animals. A CAPS film called, “No Place Like Home,” shows us the conditions of animals being held captive in a zoo. The film took place at Tweedle Farm Zoo where sick animals were left untreated and the corpses of dead animals were left on the floor to rot. CAPS itself had to take rabbits to the vet to be treated and a local police officer had to confiscate a monkey after it was found eating cake and many other junk foods.

In conclusion, I believe that bullfighting, circuses, zoos and many of the other things I have listed are completely inhumane and should be stopped immediately. From the words of PETA, “Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other