Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

“In a circus somewhere right now, an endangered tiger is leaping through a ring of fire as circus patrons gasp, and then cheer. Elsewhere, a majestic elephant, the world’s largest land mammal, is carefully balancing on a tiny pedestal and performing for the crowd” (Anastasia). Many people have visited the circus and have enjoyed watching endangered animals parade around the stage, but many do not know what goes on behind the scenes. Animals are taken forcefully from their homes and families. Bullhooks

Animals in Entertainment Animals are used for a wide variety of entertainment including zoos, circuses, animal fights/races, and a mass amount of other media. This topic is controversial due to the entertainment brought to the audience who is either oblivious or negligent to the abuse of the animals. Many animals utilized in the entertainment industry suffer, whether by the intentional hands of the owner or the side effects of safety being provided. Local zoos are attractions loved by

Before there was the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and their Greatest Show on Earth there was just P.T. Barnum and the Ringling brothers each with their own traveling circus. Barnum’s circus was originally known as P.T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Circus, which was unveiled as the largest American circus in 1870 and quickly became a hit (Barnum’s Timeline). Then in 1881 Barnum, James Bailey, and James Hutchinson partnered up to create P.T. Barnum’s Greatest Show

a red nose and a polka-dotted body. The circus is a fantastic way to be entertained by a large array of the world’s most magnificent animals. The circus is a pleasant time for most but for others it’s a nightmare. It is simple for mankind: if you do not like the circus, do not attend. The choice for animals is not so easy; they are the main attraction and therefore, forced to attend. Animals are the stars of the show, the entertainment of

Living life as a circus animal is not as entertaining as it seems. If people in the public were aware of how these animals are being mistreated, circuses would lose their shows. Some people find elephants balancing on their trunks or lions jumping through fire entertaining. These animals suffer. We are curious on how these animals are being trained to perform crucial and painful tricks. Some of us think positive about circus. Others, wonder why the animal tamers are holding whips instead of treats

BEHIND THE BIG TOP Have you ever been to a circus? Traveling shows are famous for their colorful tents, crowded atmosphere, and comical acts. Most of all, they are loved for their animals. Dogs ride unicycles and dress up as clowns; seals wear makeup and balance balls on their noses; elephants, horses, and cats perform dances for the entertainment of the crowd. But what is really going on behind the painted smiles and frilly costumes? Many circuses have long bloody histories of animal neglect and

On April 13, 1796, Barnum and Bailey Circus purchased a two-year old female, Asian elephant for one thousand dollars. This is the first of many elephants that were purchased for the two largest circuses in America, Barnum and Bailey and Ringling Bros Circus. While today there are only around sixty nine elephants that are still involved in the circus act, there was at one time approximately three hundred and five. The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and does not

Animals being caged, hit, poked, and prodded is a normal part of circus and zoo life. Wild animals are not meant to be a form of entertainment, and should not be our captives unless necessary for their health. P.T. Barnum opened what became arguably one of the most controversial circuses in modern times in 1871, and three years later, America’s first zoo followed. In the past one hundred years, very few things have changed in the way animals in such establishments are treated and trained. Kenny

allowed people to buy an up close encounter with the wild beasts of the world. Some have even trained these beasts to perform tricks for the pleasure of the audience. It is a common scene in the world today for families to spend the weekend at the circus or the zoo, peering in at the lives of the wild animals by whom people are so captivated. However, when adults plan a fun, family outing at these entertainment

For centuries, the circus has always been advertised as a fun-filled event for everyone to enjoy. Because of the silly, fun-filled antics displayed by every acrobat, clown, and animal, most visitors do not question the circus’s background or what happens when the Big Top closes. Only recently have the atrocities against animals come to light, and the truth is very depressing. The reality is that all animals in a circus environment are being forced to perform against their will out of fear: fear of