Attractions to Avoid

Circuses

When they are not practicing or performing, animals in circuses spend most of their time imprisoned in tiny cages. They rarely get proper veterinary care and usually die prematurely from stress and disease. Animals do not voluntarily ride bicycles, stand on their heads, or jump through rings of fire. They perform because they're afraid not to. Beatings and deprivation are used to force animals into submission.

Circuses easily get away with routine abuse because no government agency monitors training sessions. Undercover footage of behind-the-scenes training shows elephants being beaten with bullhooks and shocked with electric prods, big cats being dragged by heavy chains around their necks and hit with sticks, bears being whacked and prodded with poles, and chimpanzees being kicked and hit with riding crops.

Only buy tickets to circuses that use willing, human performers, and never support circuses with animal acts. Cirque du Soleil, the New Pickle Family Circus, Cirque Éloize, and others are exciting, innovative circuses that dazzle audiences without animal acts. Sweden, Austria, Costa Rica, India, Finland, and Singapore have all banned or restricted the use of animals in entertainment. Read more at Circuses.com.