Wild animals What You Can Do [ Animals in Entertainment ] • Don’t go to circuses that use wild animal acts used in circus • Spread the word by telling your friends and writing letters to your local newspaper acts are • Ask businesses to drop their sponsorships of circuses with wild animal acts routinely • Ask your state and local representatives to prohibit these acts in your community beaten, poked, • Report animal abuse to local authorities and the USDA and shocked • Suggest an animal-free circus for your community AboutText The here. HSUS Must stay in this position Foundedso it matches in 1954, The ALL Humane OTHER Society newly of the designed United States (HSUS)HSUS is the brochures nation’s largest when animal tabled!! protection organization, with nearly 10 million members and constituents. We work to create a humane and sustainable world for all animals, including people, through education, advocacy, and the promotion of respect and compassion. THE TRUTH Behind the BIG TOP

©2007 The HSUS. All rights reserved. Printed on recycled paper, acid free and elemental chlorine free, with soy-based ink. ATOURHANDS.COM Years of Abuse Current Laws CIRCUSES may seem like good family fun. But behind the Don’t Do Enough scenes there’s something no circus wants you to see: the THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT, enforced suffering of the animals. Wild animals used in circus acts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are routinely beaten, poked, and shocked with electric (USDA), creates only minimum standards prods, all to force them to perform unnatural tricks for an for animals in traveling exhibits—and it unsuspecting viewing public. This abuse continues year is poorly enforced. Persistent violators after year. are rarely prosecuted, and those who are usually only face fines. Trainers use these tactics to try to dominate wild animals and force them to act against their natural Animal trainers sometimes use cosmetics instincts. Tigers are made to jump through flaming hoops, on animals to cover up injuries from elephants are forced to wear tutus or balance themselves ankle restraints and open sores from on small balls, and bears are required to ride tricycles, beatings,andtheymayhideabused just for our amusement. animals from view during inspections. ATOURHANDS.COM

Fortunately, some communities Caged for Life are taking action—either by THE ANIMALS’ MISERY continues off the stage. Animals banning circuses that use traveling in circuses are rarely allowed out of their small, animals or by prohibiting them often dirty cages except to perform. After a show, they’re from using ankuses or bullhooks, typically locked up to travel to the next town. sticks with sharpened metal Lions and tigers hooks that trainers use to beat, Elephants are chained inside boxcars and trucks during mayremainin transport. Lions and tigers may remain in small travel pull, push, torment, and threaten cages with only enough room to stand and turn around. elephants. These communities small travel cages have sent a clear message that The trucks and trains they travel on may have no they won’t tolerate such abuse with only enough heat or air conditioning. Animals may be deprived within their boundaries. of food and water for extended periods during room to stand travel and training. The Bottom Line and turn around. CIRCUS acts that use wild Dangerous to the Public animals are inhumane, plain ATOURHANDS.COM ELEPHANTS who have endured inhumane training and simple. Animals don’t methods sometimes strike back at their trainers or perform because they choose rampage through audiences, causing injuries and death. this way of life. They have no Circus lions and tigers have escaped and performing choice—they’re beaten until chimpanzees have injured audience members when they comply. adequate barriers were not in place. All the training in the world cannot take the “wild” out of wild animals. We do have a choice, though. With so many available There’s no telling when they might attack or attempt to alternatives in family entertainment, there’s no reason flee. And escaped animals are often killed in the interest to support a circus that uses wild animals. of public safety when recapture is difficult or delayed.