Protesters Urge Audiences to Shun the Wild Animal Circus

Lake Havasu City, AZ—Animal Defenders International (ADI) is calling on the local community to stay away from the Shrine Circus and avoid supporting an industry that involves cruelty and suffering to animals.

Studies of the use of wild animals in traveling circuses show that circuses cannot meet the physical or behavioral needs of wild animals. Animals are confined in small spaces, deprived of physical and social needs, spending excessive amounts of time shut in transporters. These animals are often seen behaving abnormally; rocking, swaying and pacing, all indicating that they are in distress and not coping with their environment. ADI’s video evidence has shown how these animals are forced to perform tricks through physical violence, fear and intimidation.

“Wild animals belong in the wild, not chained and confined, forced to perform, deprived of all that is natural to them. These inhumane, unsafe acts perpetuate misconceptions which exacerbate wildlife trafficking.” said Christina Scaringe, ADI General Counsel.

ADI is calling on supporters to warn audiences of the behind-the-scenes suffering of animals in traveling circuses when the Shrine Circus comes to Lake Havasu City on November 9, 2017.

WHAT: Shrine Circus Protest
WHEN: Thursday, November 9, 2016 at 7:00pm
WHERE: Havasu 95 Speedway, Lake Havasu City, Arizona 86406

Local campaigners will be handing out leaflets and informing audiences about the suffering and telling people that the animal circus is no longer acceptable in a modern, advanced society. Circus owners are urged to leave animals out of future productions.

Local ADI volunteer representative Carolyn Long: “When families find out about the routine abuses that go on behind the scenes at circuses, they will be shocked and will not want to expose their children to this cruelty.”