Argument Essay: Why Animals Should Not Be Circus Performers

This essay presents a well-structured argument against the use of animals in circuses, as outlined in the assignment brief. It begins with an introduction that includes a hook, background information, and a clear thesis statement arguing that animals should not be circus performers due to the severe physical and mental repercussions they endure. The essay supports this claim with evidence regarding animal abuse, poor living conditions, and the violation of animal rights, referencing sources such as the Animal Welfare Act and reports on circus animal treatment. It also addresses counterarguments, acknowledging the perspectives of those who support the use of animals in circuses. The essay incorporates integrated quotations, paraphrasing, and proper MLA citations, as required by the assignment brief. The conclusion restates the thesis and offers a final thought on the subject, fulfilling all the requirements of the research paper assignment.

Running Head: ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE CIRCUS PERFORMERS
Animals should not be Circus Performers
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE CIRCUS PERFORMERS
Introduction
 Thesis statement and the background in brief
The claim of the thesis statement for this essay is that animals should not be the performers in the
circus as this results in severe physical and the mental form of the repercussions. The main
reason for the abuse of animals in the circus is because the circuses travel across the different
regions of the world irrespective of the extreme weather events that can be really harsh for the
several animals. During the transit process the animals are often confined to the small trucks
where they do not have the basic necessities of life like those of the food, water and the other
care related to the veterinary needs.
There are several instances where the elephants have been bolted from the circus shows
resulted in their wandering amidst the streets where the trainers lives were in danger as they
could not protect the elephants from becoming erotic. This rebellious behavior takes place under
continuous form of suppression of these animals amidst the inhuman conditions.
In this context it can be rightly stated that zoos are comparatively the better places for the
animals in terms of the artificial environments that can be created for them apart from the
national parks and the wildlife sanctuaries. The most crucial potential of the zoos is that it brings
up both humans and animals together under the standard environmental setting. Zoos also have
the potential to educate the general public about the different conservation issues and it results in
inspiring the people to protect the animals surrounding them in their own habitats (Society,
National. "Zoo". Discussion Accessed 7 September 2018).

2ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE CIRCUS PERFORMERS
 Supporting Points and Evidences in favor of my thesis statement
My discussion in this essay is about the abuses that the animals face because of eth circus
shows and it should be strictly prohibited for the sake of their protection. The first evidence to
my discussion is about the rights of the animals that should be maintained in the circus under the
Animal Welfare Act. Especially the lives of eth baboons , the other primates like those of the
chimpanzees that are seen in the circuses are a far cry from their distant and the wild relatives
who inhabit in large and the communities which are closely knit and they have a habit of
travelling together for miles. Being highly social by their inherent nature these animals suffer
from isolation and other such tortures in the circuses around the world.
For their poor performance the animals in the circus shows are continuously subjugated
to harsh physical punishments where they are often beaten in the harshest manner if they fail to
entertain the audience of the show. The physical punishment also includes shocks and frequent
whips. Unfortunately there are various norms that have given the open permission to the circus
agencies to bull hooks, to whip and to electrically torture the animals for the better level of
performance by them. Another serious abuse that the animals in the circus show face is the
inhalation of drugs by their trainers in order to manage them which is followed by the surgical
removal of their teeth and claws for the trainers’ convenience (perez pena 102).
Concession
 Restating the Thesis statement and the Counterargument
Finally to restate my thesis statement it is clear that under the inhuman conditions and the
abuses faced frequently by the animals in the circus shows. The evidences which have been

3ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE CIRCUS PERFORMERS
stated above clearly highlights that it is the need of the hour to prohibit such activities in order to
ensure the protection of the basic rights of the animals.
However there are several critics who have raised a counterargument and they have
supported the present use of animals for running the circus shows. The critics have highlighted
the several reasons why the animals should be used in the circus shows. They are of the view that
the circus shows provide the conservation aids through the different by programs of breeding
among the different animals by raising the subsequent level of awareness among the people.
Animals living in the wild have to bear with the risks of public predation activities and the
dangers of the shrinking habitats.
The training and the performance skills that are provided to the circus animals if provide
in the most organized way then it can provide with the enjoyment of playing among the animals.
Today even the several zoos of the world have opened up facilities for giving the animals the
basic lessons of performance and skill development in order to enhance their level of proactivity.
The critics have also argued that the circus provides the only form of entertainment where the
children even under the age of five get the opportunity to enjoy and learn the basic facets of the
human animal behavior to the largest extent (Mcpherson, Douglas 133-148).
The campaigners of animal rights have however highlighted the transition of the
traditional circus shows to zoos and more =number of aquariums that will be the ultimate source
of the human animal interaction, The world’s largest animal rights organization PETA has
highlighted that Animals are not the objects of entertainment or fun or experiment of the human
race so they should not be abused under any circumstances.

4ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE CIRCUS PERFORMERS
Conclusion
Finally, it can be stated the essay highlight the trajectories of eth animal rights abuse
where the circus shows have been the mist crucial mediums for the promotion of the increasing
level of the abuse of the animals. The essay also talks about the claims and the evidences that
support the prohibition of the circus shows in order to protect the basic right of animals. The
second part of this essay have also highlighted the counter arguments that talks about the positive
effects of the circus shows on the conservation of the different animal species. Lastly the essay
can be concluding by stating the fact that though there is chance of global success strategies of
the traditional shows but it should be implemented with proper regulations.

5ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE CIRCUS PERFORMERS
Work Cited
Society, National. "Zoo". National Geographic Society, 2020,
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/zoo/. Accessed 7 Sept 2018.
perez pena, Richard. "“Elephants To Retire From Ringling Brothers Stage”". The New York
Times, vol 136, no. 1824, 1995, p. 102. JSTOR, doi:10.2307/1193638. Accessed 5 Mar 2015.
Mcpherson, Douglas. "Caught By The Web: The Case Of Guardian News &Amp; Media’S
Sports Desk". Journal Of Sports Media, vol 7, no. 1, 2012, pp. 133-148. Project Muse,
doi:10.1353/jsm.2012.0008. Accessed 17 June 2012.