Avoid animal circuses!

I remember going to a circus as a kid – the clowns, the trapeze artists, the popcorn, the animals! I loved it all, especially the animals. But I was a child, and I didn’t know enough to realise that the circus wasn’t an appropriate home for elephants, lions, tigers, and whatever other “attractions” it might house.

But in the past few years, as more and more stories have broken about animal cruelty and poor conditions in circuses have broken, it’s become obvious to me that animal circuses are not something I am comfortable with.

Just recently, Charlie and I were discussing whether or not Little Man is too young to enjoy the circus, and we made a decision that whatever age he is when we decide to bring him to the circus, we will only take him to one that doesn’t use wild animals in the acts.

This past week, when the You Tube video of an escaped elephant in Cork started doing the rounds, it strengthened my resolve on this issue. If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth taking a look at: Elephant Goes on the Run in Blackpool

What do you think? Do wild animals have any place in travelling entertainment shows in this day and age? (Also, is it wrong that after watching this video I found myself humming “Nellie the elephant packed her trunk and said goodbye to the circus…”? 🙂 )