To be shocked that in the uk in 2012 circuses ...

[Shakirasma]

AIBU to be shocked that travelling circuses can still use wild animals in their shows?

In my ignorance I honestly thought this practice had been banned because in recent years all the ones which have been to our area have only used domestic animals like dogs and horses, or had no animals at all.

The latest one is promoting itself as a traditional circus and their posters show a zebra and a camel.

AIBU to feel disgusted by this? I was given complimentary tickets at work, they went straight in the bin.

I go to Zippos every year - its part of a bigger conglomorate that own things like Madam Tussauds and Warwick Castle - it also owns the promotion rights for Moscow State, Chinese State, Electric Circus etc ..... I go to their website and I get FB feed from Zippos - never ever a mention of any animals other than the obligatory horses and budgies.

www.zipposcircus.co.uk/

They must hide their animals well.

But you can't 'train' a lion or a tiger.
The only ones I've seen in circuses just looked angry and resentful, and performed through fear alone.
I agree that elephants, camels etc are different but, especially with elephants it's just degrading to see such a magnificent creature being treated as entertainment.
I no longer want to see it, the romance of the circus died a long, long time ago.
Give them their dignity.

I'm also pretty certain that zippo have only horses and budgies- also have the Facebook feed, trois!

Sorry, I was speaking of animals in general, not wild animals specifically, I'm having a shitty day and am fuzzy-brained.

What do budgies do in the circus? Aren't they a bit small? How can the audience see them properly?

grag