These are symptoms of animal abuse. Circus animals are motivated by fear. Circus animals are forced to travel great distances under close confinement, often chained. Elephants are relieved from chains only while performing.
Tigers leap through flaming hoops to avoid punishment by trainers.
Exotic animals employed by circuses may also pose a threat to public safety. What You Can Do Refuse to attend circuses featuring animal acts. Support circuses that don't use animals, such as the California-based Circus Chimera , New England's Circus Smirkus , and the nationally touring Cirque Ingenieux , Le Cirque Du Soleil , Nexus Circus, and the New Pickle Circus. Encourage your city to join the growing ranks of cities that have banned circuses featuring animal acts. Several U.S. and Canadian cities, including Vancouver and Victoria, BC, and such countries as Denmark, England, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland have banned circuses featuring animal acts.