It was cause for major celebration when Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus finally held its last show this spring, but even though the circus has officially shut down, its big cats didn’t get to retire with it. Over the summer news broke that Feld Entertainment, which owns Ringling, applied for a permit to export […]
Tag: circus
POLL: Should performing elephants in circuses be banned?
Animal advocates are celebrating another major victory for animals: New York state has officially banned performing elephants. Even though we celebrated when Ringling Bros. announced it would be retiring its elephants, and later closing down, there are still many other circuses and companies dragging them around the U.S. for entertainment. Fortunately, the public is turning […]
Poachers Target Rescued Circus Lions in Worrying New Trend
It was a fairy tale ending when 33 lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia were airlifted to a sanctuary in South Africa in May 2016. Setting foot on the sandy soil after years of abuse, they must have felt they were in paradise. Right from the start, two of the male lions, José […]
POLL: Should the use of wild and exotic animals in traveling circuses be banned?
A dangerous situation that turned deadly for a lost tiger found wandering this week highlights an urgent need to protect both the public and big cats in the U.S. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the tiger was first spotted on a highway in Atlanta, Ga., before making her way into a neighborhood, where she jumped […]
POLL: Should the use of wild animals in circuses be banned?
Animal advocates are celebrating progress in an effort to ban wild and exotic animals in New York City circuses, but the measure still needs support. The New York City Council is currently considering a bill introduced by council members Rosie Mendez and Corey Johnson that would ban dozens of species of “wild or exotic animals […]
POLL: Should all circuses with wild animals be closed down?
As Ringling Bros. finally closes its doors forever this week, a recent undercover investigation offers a heartbreaking reminder that many animals are still being abused and exploited by circuses across the U.S. The investigator witnessed violent treatment toward tigers — including one instance of a trainer whipping a tiger 31 times in less than two […]
POLL: Should more cities ban wild animals in entertainment?
Los Angeles, considered the entertainment capital of the world, will no longer tolerate entertainment that involves performances by wild or exotic animals. The City Council voted unanimously April 25 to ban the exhibition of these animals for entertainment or amusement purposes in circuses, exotic animal shows, public places and private house parties. L.A. will now […]
POLL: Should wild elephants be sold to Chinese zoos?
Last year more than 30 young elephants were captured from the wild in Zimbabwe and flown by plane to China. The elephants – some reported to be as young as three – were dispersed to a number of zoos throughout the country, including the Shanghai Wild Animal Park, the Beijing Wildlife Park and the Hangzhou […]