Humane World for Animals

Indianapolis: Ask your city-county councilor to prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses and other traveling exhibits

Wild animals don’t belong in circuses and traveling exhibits. They are typically subjected to neglect, abusive training and prolonged confinement, and their use in exhibits endangers the public. Many of the animals used in these traveling acts appear to suffer from psychological, mobility and other health issues, likely caused by decades of confinement and forced performances.

Several states and municipalities have already passed laws banning some wild animal acts, and this would align Indianapolis with others leading the nation in animal protection. We need your voice to ensure that animal protection is a priority.

TAKE ACTION

Urge your city-county councilor to end the use of wild animals in circuses and traveling acts, preventing the exploitation of wild animals on the city’s watch.

This action alert is for U.S. residents.

Your Message

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Dear Councilor, 

As a constituent, I am writing to urge you to prohibit the use of elephants, nonhuman primates, big cats and other wild animals in circuses and traveling exhibits in Indianapolis. 

Wild animals don’t belong in circuses or traveling exhibits where they are typically subjected to neglect, abusive training and prolonged confinement. The frequent transport, cramped housing, forced training and performances, as well as the noise and chaos of circuses is miserable for the animals involved. These exhibits also put the public at risk by bringing people into proximity with powerful and stressed wild animals. Many of the animals in traveling acts appear to suffer from psychological, mobility and other health issues, likely caused by decades of confinement and substandard conditions. 

Just recently, handlers with bullhooks—sharp, steel-tipped weapons designed to sink into an elephant’s flesh and inflict pain to get the animals to obey commands during training and performances—forced two elephants to perform at the Murat Shrine Circus in Indianapolis. The presence of bullhooks was in apparent defiance of a local ordinance prohibiting the use or threatened use of devices which may cause physical injury or suffering to animals. The only way to prevent this exploitation from happening on the city’s watch is prohibiting traveling wild animal acts altogether. 

Traveling wild animal acts are dwindling in popularity and economic viability, while animal-free circuses—such as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Cirque du Soleil and others—are thriving.  

It’s not entertainment—it’s cruelty.

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