• Donate
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
Search
Close this search box.
Facebook-f Instagram Youtube
mobilebcr
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
Menu
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
Home Videos

CIRCUS

Carole Baskin by Carole Baskin
February 27, 2011
in Videos
1
0
CIRCUS
1
SHARES
17
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

The CIRCUS is NO FUN for the animals…

Big Cat Rescue does something called Operant Conditioning to teach our cats to do things we need them to do for medical reasons, such as lean against the fence to get their shots or open their mouth so we can look at their teeth.  We do this with rewards and the cats have fun because they are smart and bored and love the attention.  We never punish or withhold food to make them do something, and the cats only do it when they want to — not on our schedule.

But because tigers and lions in circus acts must perform specific acts at precise times and “the show must go on,” positive reinforcement is not the only method used by circus trainers or night club magicians.  Often the cats are beaten, starved and confined for long periods of time in order to get them to cooperate with what the trainers want.  And life on the road means that most of a cat’s life is spent in a circus wagon in the back of a semi-truck or in a crowded, stinking box car on a train or barge.

The messages the public gets from circus acts couldn’t be worse.  These acts either show man dominating one of nature’s most magnificent creatures, which would never happen on an even playing field, or worse are promoted as illustrations of the “special bond” the trainer has with his captive.  The latter just fuels the trade in big cats as pets and that never ends well for the cat.

Last, but not least, circus acts are transient and often are a way of moving big cats across state lines or even in and out of the country.  Because the endangered species protection acts are so poorly enforced, this transience creates a legal cover for the illegal importation and exportation of exotic cats.  If a circus act leaves the U.S. with 10 tigers and comes back with 25, they can just say that the 15 additional tigers were born on the road — there is no way to prove it if they were taken from the wild.  No U.S. government agency tracks the ages nor the individual cats in private collections.

Previous Post

Circus Video and Facts

Next Post

Why Wild Animals Don’t Belong in Private Possession in Florida

Related Posts

It’s Singing Sunday with Lisa and Carole at Big Cat Rescue 03 19 2023 as Lisa sings to Beacher!
Keeper Moments

It’s Singing Sunday with Lisa and Carole at Big Cat Rescue 03 19 2023 as Lisa sings to Beacher!

March 24, 2023

Big Cat Rescue LIVE Q&A with Brittany at Big Cat Rescue 03 23 2023
Keeper Moments

Big Cat Rescue LIVE Q&A with Brittany at Big Cat Rescue 03 23 2023

March 24, 2023

Swimming before my interview with Brittany. Dutchess tiger at Big Cat Rescue.
Keeper Moments

Swimming before my interview with Brittany. Dutchess tiger at Big Cat Rescue.

March 24, 2023

Next Post

Why Wild Animals Don't Belong in Private Possession in Florida

Leave a Reply

  • Facebook Comments
  • Default Comments (0)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • Bird Flu Detected in Two Oregon Mountain Lions March 31, 2023
  • Close encounter of a leopard kind: Rare BLACK leopard captured without help from camera trap March 31, 2023
  • Turpentine Creek merging with Baskin’s Big Cat Rescue from ‘Tiger King’ March 30, 2023

Recent Comments

  • Deb Quimby on Moving
  • Wilson on Moving
  • BCR on Moving
  • BCR on Moving
  • Donna Coffey on Moving

Big Cat Rescue is accredited by the Global Federation of Sanctuaries

We are Certified by Independent Charities of America as a “Best in America Charity”

About Us

  • Big Cat Rescue Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Big cats may be the King of Beasts, but without you they can’t survive.

© Copyright 2023 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Facebook-f Youtube Instagram
Cleantalk Pixel

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.