Animals should not be in circuses
THE old adage about how times are changing is particularly evident when you ask people how they feel about animal circuses.
A poll that was commissioned by ADI (Animal Defenders International) did just that. Unsurprisingly, 80pc of people said they'd like to see all wild-animal circus acts banned.
It's clear then that increasing numbers of people realise that animal circuses have no educational merit.
Further investigations by ADI found that circus animals develop repetitive swaying and bobbing movements as a result of the confined conditions in which they are kept.
Faced with this evidence, it seems clear that those attending circuses in the hope of seeing animals perform true-to-life behaviour will undoubtedly be disappointed by what they see.
Physical abuse is also common, particularly when it comes to getting animals to perform tricks and manoeuvres.
ADI's investigation found that animals were being punched, whipped and deprived of food. The end result of this kind of lifestyle is that each animal becomes a shadow of its former self.
In recent years, Cirque De Soleil's popularity has soared. This is a clear message -- times have changed, and animal circuses have no place in today's society. People must start thinking of animals as more than commodities.
Lorraine Reilly
Limerick
Irish Independent
