We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Animal Ethics is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Horses are often kept in crates in which they cannot even turn around. Sometimes, they even harm themselves. Read more. 222-230. The welfare of both domesticated and wild animals are often severely compromised in a circus environment. An enormous percentage of people see zoos as just an entertainment, and a place to go with your family and kids, but have you really sat down to think how animals feel when they are kidnapped from their natural habitat, and forced to live in cages for the rest of their lives? 15 Penman, D. (2008) Torn to pieces by lions in front of baying crowds: The spectator sport China doesnt want you to see, Mail Online, 05 January [accessed on 23 July 2013]. 6 Price, E. E. & Stoinski, T .S. BC Envtl. Clessa, I. T.; Voss-Hoynec, H. A.; Ritzmann, R. E. & Lukasa, K. E. (2015) Defining pacing quantitatively: A comparison of gait characteristics between pacing and non-repetitive locomotion in zoo-housed polar bears, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 169, pp. As a result, the animals commonly display stereotyped behaviors, such as repeatedly moving back and forth or from side to side. With horses, dogs, and other domesticated animals, training and confinement may not be as torturous, but any time an animal is used commercially, the animals' well-being is not the first priority. Many animal welfare advocates consider fur, foie gras, and cosmetics testingto be frivolous uses of animals, with too much animal suffering and not much benefit to humans. (2005) Stereotypic behavior of circus tigers: Effects of performance, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 95, pp. Even though all these animals are subjected to painful training methods, it seems that elephants have it worst. People abuse animals just for entertainment. 8. Wild animals were confined in enclosures and hunted by humans in chariots, with the help of packs of dogs. If we claim to be compassionate to animals, we need to be compassionate to human animals. (2009) The Frozen Ark Project: The role of zoos and aquariums in preserving the genetic material of threatened animals, International Zoo Yearbook, 43, pp. They're denied everything that gives their lives meaning, such as the opportunity to run, play, or socialize. However, when they are out of their crates or cages their situation is even worse: they are let out just to be tortured so they perform. Imagine you are five years old, someone breaks into your home, kills your aunt and possibly your older brother in the process of kidnapping you.