Facts regarding McLaren International Circus
The story is completely incorrect and one can clearly see it was written by someone with absolutely no knowledge of circus animals or any animal born in captivity.
With regard to the article “No thanks to animal acts in circuses” written by Hilton and Cindy Walker, please take note of the following:
The story is completely incorrect and one can clearly see it was written by someone with absolutely no knowledge of circus animals or any animal born in captivity.
Firstly, the writer makes comment that the lions and tigers are removed from their wildlife environments. This is simply not true. All animals in circuses are born from generations of those born in captivity and are bought from registered breeders in South Africa. No circus can remove them from wildlife. This is against the law.
This writer states that they get beaten in order to perform. Once again this is completely untrue.
You simply cannot make any animal do something, not even a house cat.
Some people are convinced circus must be hurting them in order to train them. All circus animals are trained by means of positive reinforcement, patience and love. They receive a reward and praise for positive actions displayed. Negative behaviour is simply ignored. With time and patience, they will understand the command and reward. Animals are also trained using their own natural abilities observed by the trainer. These are developed to become the act seen by the public. An abusive, cruel trainer is either seriously stupid or has a death wish.
The reason for lions and Bengal tigers being on the verge of extinction in not because of circuses. They are illegally killed in game parks each day for their bones. The writer, however, did not mention the important part that breeders, zoos and circuses play in the conservation of these animals. Breeders play an important role in the ongoing conservation. If it was not for breeding programmes, the African lion would have been extinct some 35 years ago.
Circus animals have a role to play in exposing people to animals which rely on humans for their ongoing conservation. Many people have no other opportunity to experience them, and an encounter may spawn a fascination and love of nature, which can positively influence conservation efforts.
The presentation of animals has always been an important part of the circus tradition and remains symbolic of the circus for millions of people.
Stringent regulations and inspection systems make it possible to protect the classical and traditional circus as a cultural institution, while simultaneously ensuring that animals’ health and welfare needs are met. In South Africa, the exhibition and training of performing animals are regulated by The Performing Animal Protection Act.
This is important because circus is a very special kind of performing art. It offers not only the possibility for high-quality artistic expression, but also a performance that families can experience and enjoy together.
People will probably always go to circuses for recreation and to see the animals, so in the process they should be educated also, and it is the behaviour of the animals that provide this education.
The writer of the original letter should have done some research before writing such an uninformed letter to the paper. We would have welcomed them to an educational animal tour and to attend a training session at the circus, in order to educate them beforehand.
