Support Animal-Free Circus Acts in the Wenatchee Valley
Support this grassroots effort by not attending the Jordan World Circus April 11-12 at the Town Toyota Center. Learn more here about why you should support animal-free circus acts in our region!
Why Support Animal-Free Circus Acts?
Public Safety
Elephants commonly carry the human strain of tuberculosis (TB), which can be spread to humans through close contact, and can require treatment for up to a year. At Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo, staff members tested positive for a latent, or inactive, form of TB, which was attributed to their work with infected elephants.
All animals can become dangerous and unpredictable when subjected to the grueling and stressful conditions of circus life, which combined with close proximity to the public, resulted in over 30 serious incidents between 2000 and 2012 alone - including deaths of both animals and trainers and injuries to audience members according to the Animal Welfare Institute.
Some (of many) examples include an escaped Asian elephant in a Wisconsin neighborhood, Tyke's horrifying story (Trigger Warning: Sensitive Content) in Hawaii, Sue's in Wyoming, and Janet Kelly's in Florida. A more detailed summary of incidents involving elephants in North America can be found here.
Housing & Treatment
See a list of citations that contractors with the Jordan Circus have received to date, here.
The USDA is responsible for assuring proper treatment of animals in circuses, but inspections are rare and their records show no circus inspections have occurred in Washington.
Education
Research has expanded our understanding about the physical and psychological lives and needs of animals, and traveling animal acts result in enormous suffering for the animals involved.
We can set a better example for our community and our youth by offering entertainment that does not rely on abuse, suffering, and exploitation of animals.
Training
Circus animals are forced to perform unnatural and physically harmful acts under threat of pain and punishment. Learn more here.
Transport
In between performances, animals suffer being transported in dark, cramped semi-trailers, having to stand for long hours without rest, and in many cases proper ventilation, food, or water.
Enforcement of even the meager protection regulations is rare.
Unpopular & Outdated
Many countries and more than 150 cities and counties, and six states ban or restrict the use of wild animals in traveling exhibitions. Boise, Idaho is just one example.
A 2016 Forbes article noted that over two decades, the attendance at animal-based circuses dropped between 30% - 50%.
See what local media has covered so far.
Alternatives Exist
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus are bringing back their big top circus, after a five-year hiatus, and animals will no longer be part of the performances. Cirque du Soleil and Circus Vargas are just two other examples of circuses that feature only human acts and are wildly successful.
“As we look into the future, we see all circuses moving to non-animal productions. Over the last 20 years, both through strict regulation as well as changing public sentiment, performing animal acts have begun to be a thing of the past.”
- James Hamid Sr., prominent producer of Shrine circuses
Questions?
Email: NCWforanimals@gmail.com
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