Tyke Childhood

Captured and Confined

As a child, hearing the words ‘The circus is coming to town’ would light up any child’s face (The Progress, 2010). A child would imagine all of the amazing acts one would see: a man eating fire, a woman that walks high up in the clouds on one tiny wire, crazy clowns that are always a good laugh, but best of all the animals. The huge elephants carrying a beautiful woman on their backs. Powerful lions and tigers with their mighty roars running and jumping through hoops. As an adult, hearing the circus is coming to town, one might look at the circus in a different light. An adult will see: the huge elephants being stabbed in the side with a bull hook to make sure they follow the right walking path, the mighty lions and tigers

In 1994, a circus visited the city of Honolulu. Before the show began an elephant called Tyke a 21 year old African elephant, showed many signs of irritation: stomping, whimpering, and wandering. As Tyke was being ushered out towards the audience, his trainer Allen Campbell, abruptly ran up behind him, which startled Tyke. Tyke kicked an audience member Mr. Beckwith, into the arena pinning him to the ground, Campbell ran towards Tyke to prevent him from stomping on the Mr. Beckwith. In doing so Campbell lost his life. As audience members began to flee the arena, Tyke also escaped through the main exit. A few blocks away from the arena, Tyke was shot repeatedly until he fell to the ground, then was given a lethal injection (The Sun, 1994). If Tyke had been taken out of the show that day, he could still be alive today. But the circus cares more about ticket sales they receive than the health and well-being of their animals. Animals lashing out against trainers is one of the most common news topics one would read about, but readers must remember there is always a reason for animals lashing out. Animals that live their entire lives in confinement have many lasting health conditions. On more than one occasion, it has been reported specifically on elephants that the constant confinement and stress send elephants into a deep depression. Elephants experience similar emotions to us humans: joy, compassion, sadness, and grief. Many circus animals become dysfunctional, unhealthy, depressed, and aggressive as a result of unnatural and unrelenting confinement in which they are kept and treated (Last Chance for Animals,