Circus researchers emphasise humane treatment of animals

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Circus researchers call for better, humane treatment of animals

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November 04, 2007

 

 

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Circus

researchers and managers worldwide say circuses cannot exist without animal

shows but they call for better and " humane " treatment of animals given the

growing voices of animal welfare protection among conservation groups.

 

" Circus has the historic right to present animals on the stage. They began

to do that 2,000 years ago, " said Julio Cardenas, a Mexican circus

historian, at an international circus forum which ended on Friday in

Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province.

 

" What I think the world has to do is mainly to have better control of how

the circuses treat their animals, but not to deny them to use or present

animals in the show, " he said in an interview with Xinhua, citing some

governments that ban the use of certain animals in circuses.

 

Circuses have long been the target of many international groups such as

UK-based Captive Animals' Protection Society, who are opposed to the use of

performing animals in circuses and wish to see animal circuses outlawed due

to allegedly cruelty against the animals in training and performance.

 

" I definitely support animals in the circus, but I support their good care, "

said Peter Dubinsky, president of Firebird Productions, a U.S. based company

which makes and directs shows.

 

" But I am completely against cruelty against animals, " said Dubinsky, who is

a member of the appraisal committee for the competitions at the 11th China

Wuqiao International Circus Festival held in Shijiazhuang from Oct. 27 to

Nov. 4.

 

It is cruel to pull out the teeth of animals captured in the wild for the

purpose of safety when circus staff train them, and it's also cruel to use

whips to make them obedient, said Sergey Makarov, president of Circus Arts

Academy of Russia, at a forum held during the festival.

 

The Russian circus researcher said circuses should provide animals with

space enough for them to bask or walk just like in their natural environment

after their training and performance, instead of barring them in small

cages.

 

Grigori Gaponov, general manager of Bolshoi St Petersburg State Circus, a

troupe with a history of about 130 years, also advocates a humane approach

to circus animal training. In his circus there are dogs, bears, camels,

horses and donkeys.

 

Enough space for animals to rest and the love of trainers for the animals

are required for circuses, said Gaponov, whose circus troupe also presented

a program, not an animal show, to compete for the highest Golden Lion prize

of the festival.

 

" A consciousness among circus or circus-related people has to be created in

order to better treat the animals, " Cardenas said. " Circus troupes should be

humane, or good to animals. "

 

The authorities should have better control of how circuses treat and feed

animals and their rehearsals with them, he said.

 

" We also need exact rules which fit for all circuses around the world, such

as rules on the size of cages and how much time animals should have to

rest, " said Dubinsky.

 

" If you break the rules, you will be out of the business, " he said

 

*Source:Xinhua*