Exploratory Essay

As a young girl, going to the circus was an adventure I always looked forward to.
Seeing animals preform amazing tricks and the stunts performed by acrobats flying
seamlessly through the air amazed and inspired me. I can remember the smell of popcorn
and cotton candy filling my nose as a man yelled from the stands, Popcorn, popcorn,
who wants some popcorn. Laughing at the miscues of clowns falling off of their
unicycles and the sheer beauty of the exotic animals incorporate some of my fondest
childhood memories. In the grand scheme of things, the array of wild animals is what
drew me in and kept me coming back time after time. Every since I can remember,
animals have sparked within me a certain passion that I cannot quite rationalize. Whether
it is their behavior, habitat, diet or what they look like, I always wanted to know more. At
a young age I jumped at any opportunity to see animals and witnessing a full-grown tiger
or an elephant was the ultimate experience. Watching the elephants stand on one foot,
tigers jump through hoops of fire and observing their extraordinary obedience captivated
and amazed me in every way.
Though, as a child I would always find myself subconsciously wondering, how
have these men and women tamed such wild animals to perform such unnatural tricks?
It wasnt until I was older that I slowly began to uncover the truth behind the handling of
wild animals for public entertainment. As a profound animal lover, I was amazed by the
ignorance I had over this subject. Never in my wildest imagination would I ever have
thought that these animals performed out of fear of a whip or a bullhook and in worstcase situations abusive beating. A bullhook is a mechanism used by animal trainers in the
circus and is made of a steel pole with an extremely sharp hook attached to the end of it.

It wasnt until about a year ago when I became aware of the horror surrounding the
treatment of animals in the circus, prompted by a simple follow of an Instagram account
called the Black Jaguar White Tiger Foundation. This foundation follows the dedication
of one mans life to the rescue and rehabilitation of carnivorous cats from zoos and
circuses across America. His devotion to this cause has caused every day people, like
myself to take a deeper look into the misuse and mistreatment of animals throughout the
world. My inspiration into this pressing issue stemmed directly from this account, and
has inspired me to initiate some sort of change, and fight for the rights of animals.
With opened eyes and a newfound passion to make a difference for the fight
against the inhumane treatment of animals around the world, I began to research more.
What I came across enraged me. It was not just the abuse that was frustrating but also the
lack of law enforcement that is handed down to violators of the numerous laws in place to
protect the well being of all animals. It is extremely difficult for agencies such as the
United States Department of Agriculture to build strong cases against large companies
such as the Ringling Brothers Circus. Although that may seem to be an excuse for their
lack of enforcement, there is a number of ways in which these companies can be brought
to justice. A multitude of changes need to be made in the statutes and laws designed to
protect the health and safety of animals and more action needs to be taken on the side of
the law enforcing agencies. The beginning of the circus dates back to the late 17th century
and has evolved drastically. An abundance of changes have resulted including both
improvements as well as aspects that have remained the same and in some cases
worsened.

Wild animals such as lions, tigers, apes and elephants have no place in the circus,
for they are wild animals. In contribution to their own livelihood it is the least we can do
to assist in the improvement of their condition if they are going to be used to entertain the
masses. There are countless ways they are mistreated but also countless ways we can
help. Whether it is passing laws to further protect them, or holding signs outside in
downtown Manhattan, the opportunities are limitless. It is important that we give a voice
to the animals and stand up for what we know is right. The animals need to be freed from
their cages, removed from the circus and permitted to live their life as the beautiful
creatures they are. There is no validation as to why they should continue to be exposed to
maltreatment and theatrical performances that satisfy the longings of the public.