Shriners International claims to be dedicated to compassion and service to others, yet its chapters continue to host notoriously cruel animal circuses.<\/p>\n
Video footage recorded at Shrine circuses has shown elephants jabbed with a sharp bullhook, tigers whipped in the face, bison pulled by rings in their noses, and other animals suffering in despair.<\/p>\n
An animal behavior expert reported that although circus trainers, ringmasters, and other staff members have claimed that the animals at Shrine circuses perform tricks as a result of rewards and trust, “what actually occurs is environmental and physiological neglect, psychological abuse, and coercing the animals to behave through dominance and fear-based techniques.”<\/p>\n
Keeping far-ranging tigers inside cramped cages, forcing sensitive elephants to perform meaningless tricks under the threat of punishment, and dressing up animals in demeaning costumes are forms of speciesism\u2014a human-supremacist worldview\u2014and these practices must end.<\/p>\n
Tell Shriners International to require that all its chapters’ fundraisers be animal-free.<\/p>\n
This article<\/a> by Nicholas Vincent was first published by One Green Planet on 14 March 2025. Lead Image: Image Credit :HelloRF Zcool\/Shutterstock. Wildlife continues to face threats, which include hunting, poaching, illegal trade in animal products, habitat loss as well as a rapidly changing climate.<\/p>\n Become a Wildlife Champion today by supporting our conservation partners<\/a> with a monthly donation as little as $1.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/i><\/p>\nWhat you can do<\/h2>\n