UNIT 15 PERFORMING ANIMALS Performing Animals Structure 15.1 Learning Outcomes 15.2 Introduction 15.2.1 Meaning of Performing Animals 15.3 Entertainment Animals 15.3.1 History 15.3.2 Types of Entertainment Animals 15.3.2.1 Wild Exotic Animals 15.3.2.2 Domesticated Animals 15.3.3 Conservation - Does the End Justify the Means? 15.4 Animals Used in Fighting / Killing 15.5 Animals Used in Circuses 15.5.1 Dogs 15.5.2 Goats and Birds 15.5.3 Horses 15.5.4 Camels 15.5.5 Elephants 15.6 Animals Used in Races 15.6.1 Bull Races 15.6.2 Horse Races 15.7 Animals Used in Tourism 15.7.1 Elephant Rides 15.7.2 Horse Rides 15.7.3 Camel Rides 15.8 Animals Used in Sports 15.8.1 Cock Fights 15.8.2 Jallikattu 15.8.3 Kambala 15.9 Animals Used in Movies, Televisions and Live Shows 15.10 Let Us Sum Up 15.11 Keywords 15.12 Bibliography and Further Reading 15.13 Self Assessment Exercises 15.14 Answers / Hints to Check Your Progress 15.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES a) Knowledge and Understanding: After studying this Unit, you will be able to: Understand the meaning and concept of performing / entertainment animals. Classify performing animals based on the type of entertainment. 41 Welfare of Performing Animals b) Practical and Professional Skills: After studying this Unit, you will be able to: Describe different types of entertainment and general welfare issues associated with the performing animals. 15.2 INTRODUCTION Dear Learner, In the previous two units, you were introduced to the concept and welfare issues in working animals (Horses / Ponies / Donkeys, Bullocks, Camels, and Elephants). Some of these working animals are also used as performing animals. In this unit let us discuss the concept of performing animals, different forms of entertainment and other roles of performing animals. 15.2.1 Meaning of Performing Animals Performing animal means any animal which is used at, or for the purpose of any entertainment (Box 15.1). Performing animals are trained to perform unusual acts as an entertainment for humans. The practice could be subject to cruel procedure and the animal could be brutalized to perform painful movements. Box 15.1: Performing Animals Performing animals means any animal which is used at, or for the purpose of any entertainment to which the public are admitted through sale of tickets - Rule 2 (b) of the Performing animals rules (1973). Performing animal means an animal which is used at or for the purpose of any entertainment including a film or an equine event to which the public are admitted - Rule 2(h) The Performing Animal (Registration) Rules (PARR), 2001. Various forms of entertainment include use of animals in fighting, circuses, races, tourism, sports etc. The use of animals in entertainment creates serious issues both in terms of the welfare of the individual animal as well as species conservation in some cases. The entertainment industry covers an enormous range of uses of animals. In fact, this is probably the most diverse area of animal abuse. It is probably also the least ‘justifiable’ act. There are welfare problems in most cases, and the most extreme forms of ‘entertainment’ cause immense suffering and many animal deaths (Box 15.2). Box 15.2: Welfare of Performing Animals In the previous units, we discussed animal welfare as the inseparable relationship between the physical (fitness), mental (feelings) and naturalness states (the ability to fulfill natural needs /desires). Accordingly each of the species of animals being used for entertainment has different welfare needs. Example 1: The elephants used in the circuses are poked using the bull hooks causing the injury on various body parts. Sometimes a hole in either ear flap can be observed along with wounds caused due to constant chaining of all four limbs, abscess on shoulder and hips due to lying down on the hard concrete floor. These elephants used in circuses and 42 rides develop the stereotypic behavior i.e. head swaying and bobbing. Performing Animals Example 2: In case of horses used for rides develop the saddle related wounds i.e. on the wither and spine, girth and belly, on limbs etc. They are also tethered constantly with short hobble on all the four limbs. Example 3: Bull fighting causes severe injury to either of the fighting pair and sometimes even the death of the animals too. Improvement in the welfare conditions of the performing animals could be achieved by ensuring welfare friendly animal husbandry practices. While handling animals for veterinary or any other procedures, adopting welfare friendly handling and restraining practices such as behavioral, physical and chemical methods are to be followed. We can also ensure the improvement in performing animals ‘ welfare through enforcement or implementation of animal protection laws such as, The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972, Performing Animals Rules, 1973 and the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001 etc. (Please refer the next Unit for discussion on welfare issues in performing animals. The animal protection laws are discussed in MAW-003). 15.3 ENTERTAINMENT ANIMALS Entertainment animals are those that perform or are displayed publicly to amuse people in places like: Circuses Carnivals Animal shows, exhibits and fairs Amusement and wildlife theme parks Zoos, museums and aquariums Motion pictures and television programmes. Animals used in entertainment are broadly classified into following five broad categories: 1) Fighting / killing - e.g. bullfights 2) Circuses - e.g. dogs, birds, horses/ ponies, elephants, camels etc. 3) Races - e.g. bullock cart race, tonga race, dog races etc. 4) Tourism – e.g. elephants, horses and camel’s joy rides 5) Sports - e.g. jallikattu, kambala, elephant polo, horse polo, hunting, fishing etc. Although these venues are diverse, they all have one thing in common - use of animals for human purposes. Many of these purposes are purely recreational. Others combine recreation with educational goals, such as teaching the public about the conservation and preservation of endangered species. In either case, the animals are a source of income for their owners. 15.3.1 History The use of animals for entertainment dates back to thousands of years. Even ancient civilizations were fascinated by exotic animals. Archaeological evidence 43 Welfare of Performing Animals shows that lions were kept in cages in Macedonia in 2000 BC. Egyptian, Chinese, Babylonian, Assyrian, and Roman rulers also collected wild animals, as did the Abbasid princes of Arabia. Ancient collections often included elephants, bears, giraffes, and big cats. Historians believe that wild animals were kept and shown off by rulers as a symbol of power and wealth. Wild-animal performances were perfected in the travelling menageries, circuses, and sideshows of the 1800s. Most acts of the time focused on the ferocity of the animals and the bravery of the trainer. Lions were trained to roar and swat at the trainers, who fended them off with whips and chairs. These daring acts thrilled audiences, but the training methods used could be brutal. Trainers had to establish absolute dominance over their animals to prevent them from actually attacking (Fig.15.1). Animals were usually beaten, starved, and sometimes even had their teeth pulled to render them less dangerous. Fig. 15.1: A female leopard trainer (Photo by Granger, 1906) (https://pixels.com/featured/circus-leopard-trainer-granger.html) In the 19thcentury horses, dogs, and other domesticated animals performed in variety shows throughout Europe, United States and Asian sub-continent. Near the end of the century, animal acts were incorporated into a new form of Asian entertainment: circuses, joy rides, races, animal fights etc. 15.3.2 Types of Entertainment Animals Animal used for entertainment includes: a) Wild exotic animals b) Domesticated animals 15.3.2.1 Wild Exotic Animals Wild exotic animals such as elephants, lions, and tigers are the most popular. They are objects of curiosity because people do not encounter them in their daily lives. The word exotic in this context means “foreign” or “not native” but also suggests an air of mystery and danger that is alluring to people, who will often pay to see exotic animals living in cages. 15.3.2.2 Domesticated Animals By contrast, domestic animals must do something to make money, because most 44 people will not pay to see ordinary dogs and cats lying around. They might, however, pay to see them jump through fiery hoops or walk on their hind legs Performing Animals pushing baby carriages. They will pay even more to see wild animals do such things. Performing animals must be trained or tamed to be entertainers, and many trainers use cruel and abusive methods. This unnatural basis of the exotic animal business is what makes it unacceptable to animal rights groups. They believe that wild animals should live in the wild, unaffected by human interference, and not be forced to do things that do not come naturally to them. Animal welfare issues include the pain and suffering that animals undergo at circuses, carnivals, and roadside zoos and parks. The animals at these venues frequently are treated poorly, living in deplorable conditions without access to veterinary care. 15.3.3 Conservation - Does the End Justify the Means? The Animal rights advocates feel that even nonperforming captive wild animals live unnatural existences. They are either removed from their natural habitats or born into captivity. Some people argue that this is beneficial to the animals and the perpetuation of their species. The animals in the wild do face many dangers, including natural predators, starvation, hunters, and poachers. Their natural habitats in many parts of the world are shrinking as human development takes up more and more space.