WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUS
Housing Systems
There are two types of housing systems used in circuses:
A beast wagon: a small cage used for all animals. It is 4-5 feet wide by 8-10 feet long preventing animals from even turning around (Kiley- Worthington 1990). The animals eat, sleep, and urinate in the same area because they have nowhere else to go (Robinson 2003)
Chains or tethers: most commonly used for elephants, they are generally chained by one front leg and one diagonal rear leg (Robinson 2003). They prevent the elephants from lying down, taking any steps forwards or backwards (ADI, 2008)​.
Horses and ponies spend 96 percent of their time tied up in short ropes in stalls, tigers and lions spend between 75 and 99 percent of their time in small cages on the backs of trailers, and elephants spend 58 to 98 percent of their time chained up by at least one leg (ADI 2008).
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Where Are the Animals Kept When They Are Not Performing ?
They are either kept in beast wagons or they are chained up.  Elephants are chained overnight when they are not performing for periods between 12 and 23 hours daily (Harris et al., 2006).  After the journey, they will remain shut inside until a new site is prepared. Animal defenders international (2008) recorded that elephants are left on transporters for period of up to 25 hours when the journey itself is only 5 hours.
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What Causes Physiological and Behaviour Signs of Stress?
According to Montes (as cited in Lossa et al., 2009), animals show behaviour and physiological signs of stress when they are kept in confined conditions, due to loading and unloading, noise, and unfamiliar external surroundings. Lack of movement also results in physical problems such as obesity, skeletal disorders, decrease in cardiovascular fitness, and sores from rubbing against cages (Robinson,2003). However, it is important to note that it is not only the housing system that alters the behavior of the animals, other factors such as contact to visitors and exposure to weather conditions all play a role as well.
This is Aasha, a 9 month old tiger who was rescued from a circus after an investigation. Read her full story from the drop down menu.
