The life of a circus elephant is anything but easy. Most are beaten brutally, forced to perform unnatural tricks, and starved into submission for people’s entertainment. 72-year-old Suzy is no exception: having spent years in abusive environments, she bears deep physical and psychological scars. However, thanks to the conservation charity Wildlife SOS, she is now […]
Tag: circus
Fierce lions become friendly kittens when ‘love hormone’ oxytocin is sprayed into their nostrils
Lions are normally highly violent in the wild, and they ferociously defend their territory from other lions. In captivity, though, this can be a major problem, especially when lions from different prides are put together. The researchers conducted the investigation with lions on a wildlife reserve in Dinokeng, South Africa, to determine if oxytocin may […]
Animal Trainer Attacked by Alligator While Performing at a Birthday Party
Lindsay Bull, the animal trainer, works at Scales and Tails, an educational and entertainment company. Bull was just beginning to feed the 8-foot alligator when he began to act aggressively. Bull grabbed under the alligator’s lower jaw to push him back as she had done many times before, but this time, the alligator fought back […]
To pack a trunk or not? Battle over retirement plans of ‘Britain’s loneliest elephant’, saved from the circus
She’s a grande dame who over the years has made headlines for surviving more horrors than anyone should in a lifetime. And now, in the twilight of her life, she is again in the spotlight but unaware of the controversy surrounding her future. Anne, Britain’s last circus elephant, captured hearts in 2011 when video footage […]
Petition: Orangutans Forced to Dress Up and Fight in a Boxing Ring at Cambodian Zoo
Images featuring animal abuse through wildlife tourism at the Phnom Penh Safari in Cambodia were released recently in an article from the Khmer Times. The newspaper outlet sent journalists to the zoo to report on the conditions the animals were being kept in. What they found is angering animal welfare advocates across the globe. Images […]
Petition: Baker Keeps Lion Cubs as Pets in Palestine
While the cubs are only 75 days old (and growing!), Fathy and Filisteen are now neighborhood regulars and are spotted daily. Abu Jamea underscores the risks of keeping the lions in his care. “When you raise them as babies, a harmony will grow between both of you and (they) will not hurt you,” he […]
Petition: Demand Himeji City Zoo Not Get Another Elephant After Himeko’s Death
Elephants face a multitude of threats to their survival, most of which are at the hands of humans. They are trophy-hunted, pushed out of their natural habitat, poached for their ivory, neglected in zoos, exploited for various tourist attractions, and forced to perform in circuses. One of these exploited elephants, Himeko, recently passed away. […]
Petition: Send Hungry, Neglected Bear in Desperate Need of Medical Attention to Sanctuary
Visiting a zoo is often considered a family-friendly activity that is both educational and fun. Many people view these facilities as beneficial to animals; however, that simply isn’t true. The poor animals are kept in tiny enclosures for their whole lives. Sometimes they are moved between zoos, which add a whole other level of stress […]