Let's Save the Big Cats: Exotic Animals in Traveling Acts

Tiger being beaten in order to learn tricks

Today I want to talk about the bill H.R. 3359 that proposes restricting the use of exotic or wild animals in circuses and traveling acts.

Roughly, the bill states that: "No exhibitor may allow for the participation of an exotic or wild animal (including a non-human primate) in an animal act if, during the 15-day period preceding such participation, such animal was traveling in a mobile housing facility." This does not apply to "(A) an exhibition at a non-mobile, permanent institution or facility, including an accredited zoo or aquarium; (B) part of an outreach program for educational or conservation purposes by an accredited zoo or aquarium, if the animal used for such purposes is not kept in a mobile housing facility for more than 12 hours a day; (C) by a university, college, laboratory, or other research facility registered with the Secretary pursuant to section 6; (D) in film, television, or advertising if such use does not involve a live public exhibition; or (E) in a rodeo."

The representatives presenting and sponsoring this bill cite the reasonsfor the necessity of this bill as follows: "(1) traveling circuses are detrimental to animal welfare due to the adverse effects of captivity and transport; (2) due to severe confinement, lack of free exercise, and the restriction of natural behaviors, animals used in circuses suffer and are prone to health, behavioral, and psychological problems; (3) the tricks that exotic and non-domesticated animals are forced to perform require extreme physical coercion techniques, including the restriction of food, the use of elephant hooks (objects used to control and punish elephants), electric shocks, metal bars, whips, and other forms of physical abuse; (4) the welfare of animals subject to the conditions in traveling circuses, such as constant travel, limited facilities, long periods of restriction of movement, stress, and physical coercion, will inevitably be compromised, which can lead to increased risks to public safety; (5) animals in traveling circuses pose an additional risk to public safety because such animals have wild instincts and needs and have demonstrated unpredictability; (6) the use of collapsible, temporary facilities in traveling circuses increases the risk of escaping exotic and non-domesticated animals seriously harming workers and the public; (7) traveling circuses bring people dangerously close to exotic and non-domesticated animals by displaying animals in inappropriate, uncontrolled areas that are not suited for the exhibition of such animals; (8) it is not possible to provide exotic and non-domesticated animals with facilities sufficient to maintain the optimum physical and mental health of the animals because of the suffering caused to the animals by the nature of circuses, in which restriction of movement, separation from natural groupings, restriction of food and water, and physical abuse are prevalent; (9) due to the mobile and transitory nature of traveling circuses, law enforcement authorities cannot properly monitor the conditions of the animals or follow up on previous infractions by traveling circuses; and (10) restricting the use of exotic and non-domesticated animals in circuses is the most cost-effective and efficient way to safeguard both animal welfare and public safety."

After reading the bill I hope you will find that not only are these logical reasons to support this bill, but they are what is right for the animals. We must put aside our desire to see Tigers and Elephants and other such exotic animals perform for our entertainment. The actions that the trainers are forcing these animals to perform are not their natural behavior and do not help to fund conservation in the wild. I feel we should appreciate the animals as they are in the wild. Visiting accreditied zoos and accreditied non-profit sanctuaries is an excellent way of sharing these magnificent animals with our families without having them poked and prodded and forced to literally jump through hoops. Please follow the link below to contact your representative and let them know you want their support on H.R. 3359. The form is easy and only takes a minute. It will be e-mailed to your local representative. If we all work together we can help stop the suffering of exotic animals in the U.S.