University Essay: Ethical Considerations of Animal Use in Circuses

This argumentative essay delves into the contentious issue of whether the use of animals in circuses should be banned. Drawing upon four articles, the essay analyzes arguments from various perspectives, including animal rights advocates, circus associations, and scientific studies. The essay examines the welfare of animals in circuses, addressing concerns such as inadequate living conditions, forced performances, and potential for abuse. It presents viewpoints from sources like The Times and RSPCA Australia, and explores claims made by both sides of the issue. The essay discusses the ethical implications of animal captivity and the potential impact of banning animals in circuses. Ultimately, the essay concludes by recommending legal restrictions on the use of animals in circuses, emphasizing the importance of animal welfare and ethical treatment.

Running Head: SHOULD THE USE OF ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES BE BANNED?
SHOULD THE USE OF ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES BE BANNED?
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
SHOULD THE USE OF ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES BE BANNED?
In order to conserve the endangered wild animals many of the countries has raised
their voice against the abuse of the animals in circus. Specially the animal conservation laws
have been strengthened by those countries where circus are very popular. Critics argue that,
iun order to earn a fat amount of profit they circus associations pressurize animals to perform
even if they are not willing to show stunts. Again, circus associations provide insufficient
food and living to the animals, and keep experimenting with them. All these are unhealthy for
the physical, mental stability of those animals. Sometimes they are forced to take life risks
while performance and not even provided the right treatment, if injured. These are the factors
responsible for the decreasing numbers of. The purpose of this argumentative essay, is the
analyse four articles that deal with the controversial issue of banning animals in circus. After
discussing about the arguments cited in those four articles, this essay sums up the entire
content in the conclusion.
The first article“If they ban circus lions, pet cats will be next” from the source-The
Times (London, England). (Nov. 11, 2014) p. 18.,retrieved from: Link.galegroup.com.
(2019).
Argues that the government asked the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs to publish Radford report in the year 2007, to observe how the animals in the
travelling circuses are treated and after the publishing of the report government
acknowledged that there were no welfare grounds for a ban as the results shows that the
animals are provided proper food and rest along with psychological recreations.
This article also argued that the result contradicted observation of Peter Singer,
regarding the use of animal in circus. Peter Singer was the pioneer of animal rights movement
during 1970s.He believes that the result of the report is not reliable. According to him,
animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other

2
SHOULD THE USE OF ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES BE BANNED?
way. And circuses are violating all the norms of the largest animal rights organisation of the
world-“People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals”(PETA)(Link.galegroup.com, 2019).
Finally, this article mentioned the findings from Dr Marthe Kiley-Worthington’s
landmark 18-month study. According to her circus gives her opportunity to carry onher
observation, as the close association of an animal and human is only possible in the field of
circus and she received the guidance of the trainers who are well aware of how the way the
animals they train think about and perceive the outer world.Her observation reveals that
circus shows could assist conservation by raising public awareness of the cognitive abilities
of endangered animals, for example, the tricks performed by dolphins make the public see
them as intelligent and worth protecting (Chipperfield, 2014)
The second article-“The truth about exotic animals in circuses”, from the source:
RSPCA Australia. Wednesday, 24th May 2017. retrieved from: ("RSPCA Australia", 2017)
argues that In Australia, there are no national welfare standards for the protection of the rights
of circus animals. In spite of the little improvements in the rearing conditions of the circus
animals, the exotic animals used in the circusdo not receive best housing, medical treatment.
Circuses make those animals travel constantly. The frequent change of the environment,
regular confinementcreates obstacles in the path of meeting their social, behavioural and
physiological needs. (RSPCA Australia, 2019).
The Third article–“Australia’s Stardust Circus under fire for being ‘cruel’ and
‘inhumane’”,from the source: News.com.au. February 9, 2018 argues that the contemporary
circus associations like ‘Stardust Circus’denies all the allegation. According to the circus
association, the allegation of Animal liberation groups on the Stardust Circusthat the circus
shows cruelty as well as inhumanity in treating the animals, is a baseless rumour (Palin,
2018)In this context, this article provided the statement of Ringmaster Adam St. James who

3
SHOULD THE USE OF ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES BE BANNED?
is connected with Stardust Circus for 21 years. According to him the lions love travelling
between towns and ‘Stardust Circus’ gives them enough opportunity to travel.
The fourth article-“ Ringling Bros circus closure shows our changing attitudes to
animals in captivity.”arguesthat,trainersgive all the animals enough scope to rest even during
the time they travel from one place to another by cars.According to the statement of several
trainers, animals get a chance for the change of scenery, as they have to travel from pone
place to another, from one region to the other, from country to another one. This makes
provision for the change of atmosphere, recreation of the circus animals, which is good for
their mental health. This makes them happy, removes their boredom. As a result, they
perform well. There are ‘food as reward’ system for the circus animals. Hence, they receive
more than enough food. This happens in a circular way, travelling gives them refreshment,
they perform well and as a result they receive rewards from the trainers. (Phillips, 2017)
In the conclusion, it can be said that, most of the circus pretend to treat the animals
well but actually they use animals in order to earn profit and also take advantage of their
uncomplaining nature. There are cases, where lions attacked the trainers as they did not
provide them enough food, rest or recreation. Observing all these scenario legal restrictions
on the use of animal in Circus is recommended.

4
SHOULD THE USE OF ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES BE BANNED?
References
Chipperfield, T. (2014). Pearlandisd.org. Retrieved from
https://www.pearlandisd.org/Page/4968
Palin, M. (2018). NewsComAu. Retrieved from
https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/stardust-circus-receives-death-
threats-well-release-the-lions/news-story/03a0ff02347def21e7fb09726ee3216c
Phillips, C. (2017). The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/ringling-
bros-circus-closure-shows-our-changing-attitudes-to-animals-in-captivity-71485
RSPCA Australia. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.rspca.org.au/blog/2017/truth-about-
exotic-animals-circuses