This makes it the only Swiss circus in several years to feature a predator act in its programme.
Because circuses cannot meet the needs of animals, more and more countries are choosing to introduce a general ban on wild animals in circuses. Switzerland must follow suit.
This year, the animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS launched an international campaign against big cats in captivity — whether in private keeping, zoos, or circuses. In Switzerland, the campaign drew attention primarily to the lack of a ban on wild animals in circuses, even though there had been no big cats in Swiss circuses for some time. All the more disappointing, then, is the announcement from Circus Royal: on its 2016 tour, it will present seven lions in its ring. “We are appalled that a Swiss circus has chosen to reintroduce a predator act into its programme. Lions in the ring are, from an animal welfare perspective definitely a step backwards for the Swiss circus world,” says Julie Stillhart, Country Director of FOUR PAWS Switzerland.
Big Cats in Circuses
A circus cannot come close to providing big cats with adequate living conditions. Insufficient exercise, a barren environment, and the suppression of hunting instincts lead to behavioral disorders such as monotonous pacing. It is well documented that predators in particular, which have large home ranges, show many signs of stress. Under the new wild animal husbandry ordinance that came into force at the beginning of 2015, circuses in Switzerland are permitted to fall massively short of the applicable minimum requirements and minimum enclosure dimensions for wild animals during a tour. Outdoor enclosures on tour may now be up to 30 percent smaller, provided the animals are kept regularly occupied. “The fact that Circus Royal claims to want to provide its lions with roughly three times more space than required does not change the reality that a traveling circus still cannot come close to offering seven lions a species-appropriate habitat,” emphasizes Thomas Pietsch, VIER PFOTEN wildlife expert.
No longer a tradition
The Swiss National Circus Knie set a good example for its competitors this past August. From 2016 onwards, it will discontinue its traditional elephant act — a very welcome announcement that sets a commendable precedent. VIER PFOTEN recommends that the responsible cantons refuse to grant permits to circuses that tour with big cats. Because in addition to the inadequate keeping conditions, housing big cats under circus conditions poses an incalculable safety risk.
A national ban is urgently needed
The ill-considered decision by Circus Royal demonstrates once again that a national ban on wild animals in circuses is long overdue. The risk that, following Circus Royal’s announcement, elephants or bears may soon return to the circus ring must not be taken. In the meantime, 19 European countries — such as Bulgaria and Slovenia, which lag behind Switzerland in many other areas of animal welfare — have already imposed complete or partial bans on keeping wild animals in circuses, including certain species of big cats. More and more modern circuses are operating successfully without wild animal performances. Switzerland must follow their lead.
What you can do
- Do not attend circuses that feature wild animals!
- Explain to your children why animals in the circus are made to suffer.
- Before a circus performance, draw the attention of local media to the problems and aspects of animal welfare.
- Inform VIER PFOTEN if you learn of a circus with poor husbandry conditions.
A circus is a place for laughter and dreams. But wild animals do not belong in a circus! That things can be done differently is shown by circuses that celebrate great success with programmes featuring no animal acts, such as the German circus «Flic Flac» or the Canadian «Cirque du Soleil».
Related dossiers and articles:
- Dossier: Hunting and Animal Welfare
- Dossier: Ending Recreational Violence Against Animals
- Dossier: Hunting and Biodiversity
- Dossier: Psychology of Hunting
- All articles: Wildlife
- Taking action against hobby hunting
