Zoos, Circuses, Safaris: A Gallery of Captivity

[peter]

This post has some videos of German circuses. All but he first are from Prof. Dr. Klaus Zeeb of the 'Tierhygienisches Institut Freiburg'. They are in German. The circus was, and still is, important in Germany. German trainers were among the best. They still are.

Over here, exotic wild animals can't be used in the circus anymore. As most visitors came to see them in particular, chances are many circuses will struggle in the near future. The biggest circus in Holland went bankrupt a week ago. Over 60 lost their job. Experience and knowledge will be lost forever. Many more will follow. I fear for the animals.

During the debate on exotic big cats, trainers and others were experimenting with different training methods. They aim was to get them more active in a fitting, more natural, way. The animals liked it and the public was more involved. I know, because I was there. Research was done. All this is now past and gone. From now on, you will see parodies of big cats in zoos.  

In order to survive, circuses will have to come up with something in order to draw a crowd. I predict a giraf riding an rhino within a few years. There will be no animal rights groups to help the rhino. Why not?

I worked with those involved in animal rights groups for quite some time when I visited rescue facilities to measure and weigh captive big cats. We cooperated on all kinds of projects. Until I had had enough. The reason was they were not that interested in big cats. It was about something else. What was that? I noticed they often were young. Many had had a troubled life. Abuse has terrible consequences. Ruined human lives and no legal action will result in problems sooner or later. In animal rights organisations, young people with a troubled past often met those with a similar background. And this time, they were not going to lose. Big cats were selected as a means. Why? They are a nightmare come true. Big cats are 'Monsters of God'. We talk about them. All this suited the activists. Best means to an end. They knew journalists and intimidated people (politicians in particular). The result of the war is no more exotic big cats in the circus. 

Did they enter the cage to see and touch a sedated big cat? Never. They were terrified. Did they know about big cats? Zilch. How did big cats respond to them when they were close to them? I better not tell you. Why then did they select big cats to retaliate? Because they too felt special and dangerous. Because they too wanted to be heard, respected and feared.  

But isn't a circus a terrible place for big cats? Of course it is. Isn't it degrading to make them perform? Of course it is. Didn't some trainers abuse big cats? Sure they did. Isn't it a no life? Sure it is. Isn't it true that animals in general are treated as vermin everywhere? Yes, they are. Isn't it true that something has to change? Yes, it has. So these animal protections groups did serve a purpose? Yes, they most certainly did. But not for captive big cats.

The animal trainers I talked to agreed captive big cats didn't do that badly. Other animals suffer. Horses, cows, pigs, birds and everything else we eat. Many are kept in conditions that surpass the imagination. When a farm is burning down, thousands and thousands die. When there is a disease, many more perish. Not because of the disease, but because they are killed just in case.   

When humans are involved, anything is possible. Many just don't care about other creatures. Or each other. Over here, abuse is a problem. Should we get rid of religion for this reason (most children are abused by those working for religious organisations - the percentages are staggering)? Should we get rid of schools? Families? Sport clubs? The justice system? The answer is we need time to learn and change a few things. It will go very slowly, but over the years we will make a bit of progress. Compared to the Middle Ages, today's life, at least in most parts of Europe, is not that bad. But there's no question that some will get involved in abuse no matter what. Can't be prevented. In most cases, the victims are those that can't defend themselves. The young, the old, the disabled, the poor, the loners and the unlucky.  

As to captive big cats. There are many thousands. Most live in conditions you don't want to know about. The lucky ones made it to a zoo or rescue facility. In spite of the remarks about the circus above, it is not the worst option for captive big cats. They interact with other animals. They interact with us. They travel. They stay fit to a degree. They mate. They are treated by those who care about them and they are healthy compared to those who walk from one side to the other all day every day.

As a result of the exotic cats act, many thousands of big cats will lose friends, connections and a perspective. I do not doubt that many will be 'euthanized'. The others will spend the rest of their life in a cage with zero perspective. Many will no longer have the opportunity to see them (a zoo is way too expensive for many, whereas the circus, at least for children, is not). When I had big cats skulls in my house, the children in my street found out and visited me. Their parents and others followed. Many hundreds came to see the skulls. They asked many questions and stayed for a long time. I never saw them as interested again. They told me they don't want to live in a world with no animals. The problem is they do not have the opportunity to see them. There's no education anywhere. Zilch. All connections are lost.         
          
Anyway. Here's the videos:
       

1 - R. Strickler (1984). Circus show of 13 minutes (polar bear included):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpHZUuzwQzY

2 - Working with lions and tigers. Footage of 7 big cat trainers (3 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYhMlf9mD_Y

3 - Friendship with predators (3 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7aKmBE6mug

4 - L. Knie and tigers (1973). From the start of the training to the act (3 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZsj0TUSnrQ Reply