Circuses, which are apparently still a thing, are about to experience a major change in the United Kingdom. For centuries, the spectacles have featured wild animals, like elephants, lions, tigers, bears, camels, zebras, chimpanzees and reindeer. Animal rights activists have vigorously criticized circuses for subjecting those animals to confinement, torture and unhealthy living conditions. As a result, nearly 40 countries around the world have introduced bans.

On Wednesday, members of Parliament announced the Wild Animals in Circuses Bill, which bans traveling circuses from making wild animals perform for public entertainment in the UK.  "Traveling circuses are no place for wild animals in the 21st century and I am pleased that this legislation will put an end to this practice for good," Environment Secretary Michael Gove stated, per the BBC.

"Today’s announcement follows other measures we have taken to strengthen our position as a world leader on animal protection," he added. "This includes our ban on ivory sales to protect elephants, and delivering Finn’s Law to strengthen the protection of service animals."

In February 2018, the government committed to introducing the ban by 2020. At the time, 94.5 per cent of the public supported the motion, according to The Independent. 

The bill is a major victory for animal rights groups, who have been campaigning for the ban for years. They claim circus animals spend most of their lives behind bars, babies are torn away from their mothers, physical punishment is used as a training technique, deprivation is used as punishment, and the animals are faced to things they fear, like jumping through a ring of fire, balancing on a tightrope and riding a motorcycle.

"I am pleased that today’s legislation will deliver on the ban that many welfare charities and parliamentarians have been calling for," Animal Welfare Minister David Rutley said. "The general public can still enjoy a trip to the circus, but it is good to know that wild animals will no longer be a part of that experience."

"We really welcome the Government introducing a Bill to ban the outdated practice of using wild animals in circuses," stated David Bowles, the head of public affairs at the RSPCA, the largest annual welfare charity in the UK. "We’ve campaigned against having wild animals in circuses for many years. They have complex needs that cannot be properly met in a circus environment."

"It’s high time keeping wild animals in circuses is consigned to the history books and we look forward to the day that it is banned for good in England," Bowles added.

The ban only applies to wild animals, meaning circuses can still feature domestic creatures like horses, donkeys and dogs. Officials will regularly inspect the animals to make sure they are treated humanely.

In other UK news, the government became the first in the world to declare an "environment and climate emergency."

A trip to the circus is often seen as a fun day out but anyone who attends an event like this needs to be aware of what life is like for circus animals. For them, rather than a fun day out, it is a lifetime of confinement where they are kept in chains and forced into the ring to perform the same monotonous tricks over and over again in front of endless auditoriums. In 2017, close to 40 countries across the world have banned animals from appearing in circuses, but sadly the United States - along with France, Ukraine and many others -  is not one of them. Instead, the government stands back as many animals are stolen from their families, half starved to death, beaten every day and trapped behind bars for the majority of their lives. All in the name of entertainment. Join VT as we talk you through 10 reasons why the curtain should fall on the “Greatest Show on Earth".

1. Circus animals can spend up to 96% of their lives behind bars

It's difficult to believe that anyone could be confined to one place for such a large amount of their lives. But shockingly, this figure is true for some animals who belong to circuses. It is estimated that circus tigers and lions will spend between 75 and 99 per cent of their time in severely cramped cages on the backs of trailers, while Animal Defenders International report that horses and ponies can spend up to 96 per cent of their time tied with short ropes in stalls, or tethered to trailers.

2. Babies are torn away from their mothers immediately

It's been reported that elephant mothers sometimes give birth with their legs tied down, so that babies can be stolen immediately. In addition, PETA claims that other elephant babies who are still nursing - usually between 18 and 24 months old - have rope tied around all four of their legs and are dragged away from their mothers. From that moment forward, they are punished any time they try to engage in any type of instinctive behaviour like running away, until finally the day comes that their spirits are broken and they meekly accept their torment.

3. Physical punishment is used as a training technique

Circus animals learn about the pain of the whip early on and often cringe and cower as their trainers approach; the Animal Welfare Act allows the use of bullhooks, whips, electrical shock prods, or other devices to train circus animals, so it's not uncommon at all to find them beaten and in a state of shock from the savage discipline they're subjected to.

4. Deprivation is used as punishment

It comes as no surprise that starvation and dehydration is another key tool in the "breaking" process. Animals will often be starved until they are willing to obey every order their handler barks at them. In 2015, it was reported by One Green Planet that a young circus lion, Magnus, was starved by its owners in Spain in order to ensure that it stayed small and cute for selfies with visitors. Luckily, the circus - which was charging visitors €20 per photo - was caught and the young lion was seized by state veterinary officials and taken for treatment.

5. The animals commonly develop disabilities

Performing dangerous tricks over and over again often leaves the animals who perform in circus shows with awful afflictions no one would wish on anyone. When Chinadialogue interviewed Jin Yipeng, deputy professor of veterinary medicine at China Agricultural University, the expert told all about the animals she had treated. She said: "I saw one of these boxing bears which had been made to stand on its hind legs for so long it had arthritis, which developed into chronic hip damage and then necrosis. It would have been disabled for the rest of its life. I took an X-ray and saw that surgery would have been an option. The circus didn’t think the bear was worth the costs, so it didn’t happen."

6. They sometimes have genetic defects from inbreeding

The white tiger is extremely rare in the wild, but can easily be found in circuses around the world. This is no coincidence; many white tigers in circuses are products of inbreeding and have genetic defects which include being cross-eyed, having club feet and spinal deformities, as well as being prone to other health problems.

7. Keeping them locked up can be lethal

The animals involved in circus performances can become a danger to the public and to their trainers. After years of confinement and beating, they have been known to escape, attack members of the public and maul or kill handlers. Perhaps the most recent publicised incident of this kind was when Buffalo Circus lion tamer Steeve Loberot was savaged by his lion in front of an audience of screaming children in Doullens, Northern France. Amazingly, the keeper was saved by his quick-thinking wife who sprayed a fire extinguisher into the ring, forcing the 220kg big cat away from her husband. But he was one of the lucky ones and thousands of others have not been so fortunate.

8. They are forced to do the things they fear

Whether it be jumping through fire, balancing on a tightrope or riding a motorcycle, the animals who perform tricks for audience's entertainment do not want to be there and are often struck with fear when taking part in shows. It comes as no surprise that the animals involved often die prematurely or grievously injure themselves while on stage or in rehearsal. Professor Jin Yipeng remembers a tiger that lost its sight after jumping through a ring of fire, saying: "Its two eyes had turned white, with the corneas ulcerating after being burned. There might have still been burnt matter in there, I can’t be sure. The hair on its head had been scorched off, and there was a burn the size of a bowl on its forehead."

9. They're drugged to make them easier to control

A number of animals are drugged in order to make them easier to control for trainers. While they are in a passive state, their teeth are sometimes removed so they are unable to fight back against their abusers. For instance, PETA reports that they have found chimpanzees with their teeth knocked out by a hammer in the past.

10. They travel in horrific circumstances for up to 11 months per year

ASPCA reports that, during the off-season or in between shows, animals can be found in traveling crates, trucks or barn stalls. Bears and big cats are typically kept in 5×10 ft cages and typically develop sores from rubbing against the wire bars. In fact, a few years ago United States Animal Welfare cited every major circus for not attaining the bare minimum level of care. Harmful physical and psychological effects on animals are often indicated by unnatural forms of behaviour such as repeated head-bobbing, swaying, and pacing. Like many things from history which are now under greater moral scrutiny, circuses are now seen as something of a relic of the past and a questionable relic of the past at that. Clearly, the choice is yours. But these are the facts.

Animal abuse is a real and much-debated issue when it comes to circus entertainment. Indeed, circuses have received a great deal of criticism from animals rights organisations for exploiting, abusing and often punishing the creatures in their programmess.

Many of these animals are bred in captivity and will spend most of their lives in unnatural and stressful environments. When they are not performing or training, they are often chained or kept in cramped and poorly ventilated conditions.

Take a look at these very realistic 3D holograms of animals used by Circus Roncalli:

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This appalling treatment eventually takes its toll on their physical and mental health. As a result, calls for a ban on the use of animals in circuses are increasing year on year.

However, one very forward-thinking circus in Germany could very well pave the way for the inclusion of 'animal entertainment' without any need to take the creatures out of their natural habitats - or use them in circuses at all.

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Circus Roncalli is the very first of its kind to replace animals with realistic holograms.

Instead of capturing and forcing a group of sentient creatures to perform tricks in front of an audience, Circus Roncalli will be using these very striking three-dimensional holograms.

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Optoma Corporation, the company which developed the technology for this revolutionary project, said:

"Roncalli wanted to create 3D holographic images from bright, reliable, long-lasting projectors to fill the circus arena measuring 32 metres wide and 5 metres deep with 360° visibility for the entire audience."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Circus Roncalli]]

Optoma Corporation elaborated:

"Boasting superior color performance and 360° projection capability, Optoma’s ZU850 model with innovative MultiColor laser technology has assisted in creating a phenomenal experience for Roncalli circus visitors.

Thousands of visitors now enjoy a modern, entertaining twist on the circus experience. With 360° projection of horses galloping around the arena and elephants doing headstands, the Roncalli circus experience is not one to miss."

A cruelty-free future for circuses could, therefore, be closer than we think.

The Danish government has purchased the country's last four circus elephants for 11 million kroner ($1.6 million) so they can retire.

The purchase of the elephants comes as the country moves towards banning the use of wild animals in circuses. The country's Food and Fisheries Minister, Mogens Jensen, said that this ban is likely going to come into effect at the end of 2019.

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While it's not known yet where Ramboline, Lara, Djunga, and Jenny will retire to, those applying to facilitate their retirement will have to take them into their care in a timely manner and provide them with everything they need for proper welfare, AP News reports.

Circus Arena manager Benny Berdino said he was "sad to have to say goodbye" to the animals, but is happy that they are going to have the best possible retirement.

The Jakarta Post reported the Danish Ministry saying: "The elephants will be sent to the establishment that can offer them the highest level of well-being."

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The move comes as an increasing number of countries, including England, ban or propose to ban the use of wild animals in circuses. Indeed, a circus in Germany recently took a stand on the issue by using holograms instead of living animals.

The UK's former Environment Secretary Michael Gove said in a government statement:

"Travelling circuses are no place for wild animals in the 21st century and I am pleased that this legislation will put an end to this practice for good.

Today's announcement follows other measures we have taken to strengthen our position as a world leader on animal protection.

This includes our ban on ivory sales to protect elephants, and delivering Finn’s Law to strengthen the protection of service animals."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

Scotland banned the use of wild animals in circuses back in 2017.

Animal Welfare Minister David Rutley said: "The general public can still enjoy a trip to the circus, but it is good to know that wild animals will no longer be a part of that experience."

It is believed that England's ban will come into place in January 2020, which marks the expiration of its existing regulations.

Officials in France have announced plans to ban the breeding of dolphins and orcas in captivity, as well as the use of wild animals in traveling circuses.

In addition, the European nation will also start to "gradually" ban American mink farms used for fur.

[[imagecaption|| The Marineland theme park in Antibes. Credit: PA Images]]

As reported in Le Monde, Ecological Transition Minister Barbara Pompili announced the new sweeping measures today (September 29), stating that the country has to change its "attitude to wild animals".

During a press conference, Pompili said (translated): "It is time that our ancestral fascination with these wild beings no longer translates into situations where their captivity is favored over their well-being."

[[imagecaption|| A mink in captivity at a fur farm. Credit: PA Images]]

The new measures will mean that France's three dolphinariums will also no longer be able to breed new dolphins or killer whales - or have any transported in from other countries.

Pompili added that the use of wild animals in traveling circuses will cease "in the years to come".

[[imagecaption|| Minister of Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili. Credit: PA Images]]

The publication states that there are some 500 wild animals in French circuses, for which Pompeli states "solutions will be found on a case-by-case basis, with each circus, for each animal"

She also stressed that the animals can obviously not be "released".

In addition, the minister announced an aid package of eight million euros ($9.3 million) to help circuses and dolphinariums adapt to the new bans.

 

Pompili did not reveal a precise timetable for the implementation of these measures.

She told reporters: "Setting a date doesn't solve all the problems, I prefer to set up a process to make it happen as quickly as possible."

"We are asking (circuses) to reinvent themselves," she said, adding: "It will be a time when they will need support, and the state will be at their side."

[[imagecaption|| Dolphins perform at The Marineland theme park. Credit: PA Images]]

More than 20 European countries already limit or ban animals in circuses, as have about "400 communities" in France, according to Pompili.