Animals in entertainment
Animals have been kept captive and have been used in the entertainment industry for the longest time.
They are taken away from their habitats and are then tortured so ‘animal lovers’ can please their eyes and perhaps watch them perform tricks. We fill the pockets of these industries to see these animals in movies, zoos, marine parks, racetracks, and circuses, as this gives us happiness. But the reality behind this is quite different and hidden. Animals face a great deal of suffering and torture just to please human eyes.
Not only are they kept in small and uncomfortable enclosures, rather they are poked, prodded, tied, beaten, starved, restrained, and drugged.
These ways of entertainment fail to treat animals with the respect they deserve and violate the animal's right to live in freedom.
Zoos and Aquariums
Zoos today have become entertainment for humans instead of conserving the endangered species.
A zoo is a place where animals are kept in order to preserve species that are under threat in the wild. Animals are kept in confined spaces and are not only deprived of their natural habitats and climatic environments, but they also suffer due to unnatural and cruel social deprivation.
The cages are designed with the visitors kept in mind and not the animals.
These animals cannot explore, hunt, play, exercise, or socialize the way they are meant to in the wild. The aim of the zoos these days is to display these animals for the amusement of humans. Animals often are scared because of human behavior and have no place to escape or hide.
Many of the Dolphins and sharks contained in aquariums cannot survive for long in captivity.
Dolphins are made to perform tricks and are made to behave unnaturally every day. They are made to perform every day, various times as tourists keep coming. Many of them drown or run into walls within just six months. They often witness their mother being killed with a harpoon while being taken away from their habitat.
They don’t get an opportunity to choose their mate and are usually artificially inseminated.
Animals hence show abnormal behaviour and show signs of serious psychological distress and anxiety by walking back and forth in their cages, known as ‘Zoochosis’. They are given anti-depressants such as Prozac.
CIRCUSES
Animal performances are foreign to their natural behaviour and they are tortured to learn to do so.
They are beaten and are forced to perform tricks like standing on their hind legs and jumping through rings of fire which they are terrified of. Sometimes they are risen to high platform which further intensifies their fear of heights.
Some animals get seriously injured while training and are immediately discarded and left to die.
They are punished into submission until they overcome their fears to continue to perform tricks. They are often whipped, yelled at and chained to 'train' them.
Circuses use exotic animals to attract an audience and then exploit their them.
There is cruelty involved in the way the animals are kept, fed and in the way they are transported from one place to another. They are kept in crammed up spaces and have very restricted diets.
ANIMAL RACING AND FIGHTING
Animals like dogs, horses, and bulls are used for racing and fighting events to entertain humans.
They are punished by hitting their skin with ropes and lassos, sometimes even burnt with hot rods.
They are given shocks with electrical rods in order to train them. This is quite unnatural for them and becomes traumatizing while training and performing.
If they suffer with injuries or broken bones, they are either sold for meat or are poisoned.
ANIMAL PHOTO-OPS
In places like the Tiger Park in Pataya, tigers are used as props.
Cubs are usually separated from their mothers in the first few hours of their birth so they can be used to being handled by people. They are forced to perform tricks as well.
Sometimes the tigers are declawed or drugged so they don’t harm the tourists.
The tigers that don’t perform tricks are used as photo props where people pay in plenty to get photos taken. The tigers that grow too big or old for these activities are sold as pets, sent to zoos, or are made breeding machines to produce cubs so the whole cycle continues.
Industries like these are promoted, supported by a large number of ignorant tourists.
ANIMAL RIDES
Animal rides are a common sight in many states. Elephants, camels and horses are used for this.
Cubs are usually separated from their mothers in the first few hours of their birth so they can be used to being handled by people. They are forced to perform tricks as well.
Sometimes these animals are painted with toxic paints to make them look attractive.
Animals used for such events are not fed properly and are always chained. They are made to wear equipment for humans to sit on them, which are often ill-fitted. Sometimes, this equipment dig into their skin and cause injuries and infection. They are made to carry an excessive amount of load even if they are tired or have sore feet.
Animals like elephants are also kept in some temples.
Elephants need a large space to live and move but, are held captive in such cases. Several people try to touch them which scares the innocent animals.