Humane Society Director: Animals are miserable at circus

The “Big Top” is a “Big Nightmare” to performance animals in the circus

Dear Editor,

A circus is coming to North Iowa in a few weeks. The Shrine Circus is a traveling show that includes acrobats, clowns, and of course, plenty of performance animals. The upcoming Shrine Circus in North Iowa specifically showcases the Tarzan Zerbini Performing Elephants as part of it traveling show.

While all of this may seem like innocent family fun, what goes on behind the scenes at a circus is hardly innocent: the needless suffering of wild animals. Often, performance animals used in circus acts are routinely beaten, poked, and shocked with electric prods, forcing them to learn routines and perform unnatural tricks for an unsuspecting viewing public. This abuse continues year after year as the show travels state to state to each new town for each new audience.

The animal’s misery also continues off the stage. Animals traveling in circuses are rarely allowed out of their small, often dirty cages, except to perform. After the show, they are typically locked up to travel to the next town. In the wild, an elephant may walk up to 20 miles a day; in the confinement of a circus, they may only walk 20 yards per day, to the performance tent and then back to their dark, dingy, cramped cage. Animals are frequently chained or shackled for long periods of time, which leads to open wounds, sores, and often infections.

Circuses are required to adhere to the animal care standards set forth through the Animal Welfare Act and enforced by the USDA for animals owned by the circus. The Shrine Circus evades this rule be “leasing” its animals through groups like Tarzan Zerbini’s Performing Elephants. Every exhibitor of Shine Circus-leased animals has failed to meet minimal federal standards under the Animal Welfare Act for the care of animals used in the circus…including Tarzan Zerbini’s Performing Elephants show.

The bottom line is circus acts that use wild animals are inhumane and unnatural. Wild animals don’t perform because they choose this way of life; they are often beaten until they comply.

You do have a choice though. When the Shrine Circus comes to Mason City, you can choose to NOT attend and send the message loud and clear that you do not find animal cruelty “entertaining.”

Sincerely,

Sybil Soukup, Executive Director
Humane Society of North Iowa