Bears, elephants, tigers, and other animals do not voluntarily ride bicycles, stand on their heads, balance on balls, or jump through rings of fire. They don't perform these and other difficult tricks because they want to; they perform them because they're afraid of what will happen if they don't.
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And most of us know in our heart or hearts that animals don’t choose to live in cages, boxcars and other places completely foreign to the habitats indented for their natural existence.
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Yet for the brief moments of entertainment that occur when an elephant stands on his head or a tiger roars to the snap of a whip; these living, feeling, magnificent creatures endure a lifetime of the unthinkable.
We applaud trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, tightrope walkers, and acrobats, but let's leave animals in peace. The Latest Shows on Earth—Cirque du Soleil, the New Pickle Family Circus, Cirque Éloize, and others—are exciting and innovative circuses that dazzle audiences without animal acts.
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The entertainment is often so spectacular it’s hard to believe and the human performers live for the joy of thrilling audiences.
Please consider that we can still get our thrills, our popcorn, peanuts and soda while the elephants peacefully graze in the jungle.
Lisa J Landone
Trumbull CT
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