Re-reading my reply, I see I’ve mostly addressed alleged abuse of animals (or lack thereof). I want to add that many of these animals very obviously enjoy their working relationship with people.
Elephants can be very eager to please because it’s stimulating for them to work with humans. They’re intelligent, and the work is challenging and interesting. To me it’s just as natural as a border collie that works with a human to take care of sheep. The obvious enjoyment that a dog gets from cooperating with humans is easily recognizable in elephants and other animals.
Big cats are a bit more temperamental and can be unpredicable, especially tigers. But it depends on the individual animal and the relationship with its trainer. I was told monkeys were considered the most dangerous animals to work with, and I think that’s why they’re seen less often in circuses. One trainer told me he disliked them because they were twice as smart as humans and five times as strong.
It had a big tent, a ringmaster and simulated calliope music. That’s circus enough for me.
Frankly, for me the main draw of the circus was always the displays of human skill and ingenuity. I’ve seen “classic” circuses - the Ringling Brothers in the late 70’s - and it was the guys and gals flying through the air who would impress me the most.
Back in the 70’s a circus stayed overnight close to our rural town. My dog went wandering that night and came back smelling as if he had rolled in elephant shit. That was enough for me.
It’s pretty obvious you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. You’re completely off-base interpretation of the OP’s question is pretty revealing. WTF.
When my kids were young, I used the circus as an educational experience. I explained why some people do not like the idea of circuses. I explained why IMHO PETA sucks donkey dick (using different terms). We went to the circus and enjoyed some of it. My son (now 17) and daughter (20) chose to never attend again.
I’m talking about the fact that you obviously have no knowledge of what you’re talking about with regard to circuses, and your uninformed opinions are purely speculative. Any intersection between your spew and reality seems to be coincidental, as with most of your postings on these boards. How about going away and letting the adults talk?
I’ve been on these boards for about ten years and have never started a Pit thread about a poster, don’t participate in such threads and I don’t intend to start. But seriously - shut up when you have no knowledge of the subject under discussion.
Last circus I went to, some smiling 20-odd year old asked my kid if he wanted a coloring book. He took it but didn’t have time to look at it before we entered. I checked it out and it was some PETA thing about how horrible circuses were and how the elephants would all die sad and lonely and missing their elephant moms or some shit. Fuck those dudes and their trying to ruin some kid’s day.
…circus animals are not left uncared for to suffer and die of disease, nor are they eaten while still alive like their wild counterparts. Nor are circus animals slaughtered as soon as they become adults like cows and pigs. Some would say that Circus animals have a better, safer, life than their cousins who are wild and still living(and dying) in Africa.
…Pet elephants are not cheap to care for.
I never worked in a circus, I never said I did.
My points before you posted were that circus animals are most likely well cared for, AND, that circus animals can be very expensive to care(feed, training,veterinarian,cleaning,etc) for, esp lions, tigers, elephants, etc. and you in fact seemed to agree with my major points. You came after me and apparently confirmed my earlier major points by reaffirming that circus
animals “are usually quite well cared for” and that they are " really, really expensive and represents your livelihood ".
If you don’t agree with me that circus animals are likely well cared for, and that circus animals are expensive, then please clarify if you do or dont think those animals are well cared for as well as being expensive.
On the other hand, if you do agree with me, then I have no idea why you seem to be complaining about my points while at the very same time agreeing with my points.
Do you really think that an animal living in a circus for years and years, perhaps born in captivity, would stand a chance to survive in the wild, or even be accepted by the other wild lions, tigers, or elephants whose space he invades? I don’t think so. Releasing in the wild is not an viable option.
That was enough right there to know you have nothing to add to this topic.
I don’t care what you think, whether you agree, disagree or feel our posts have any shared points at all. It’s like if a two-year old were to side with me in a debate about world politics - it wouldn’t really matter because the kid’s lack of knowledge on the subject makes their opinion irrelevant.
YAY! Very very VERY glad to hear that! I have a soft spot in my heart for Pat Derby & her organization because of her book written in the 70’s- The Lady and Her Tiger. Anyone who loves animals should read it… and be prepared to both laugh and cry. My autographed copy is one of my most prized possessions.
