The Pros And Cons Of Animal Captivity

Human fascination for lions and tigers has prompted circuses, such as Ringling Brothers, to hold these feline animals in captivity for entertainment. However, these actions are morally impermissible because it causes unnecessary harm and suffering, therefore compromising the animal’s welfare (21). Furthermore, the moral issue that arises is whether these circuses are minimizing the level of discomfort their animals experience. The basis of these arguments is not whether lions and tigers have the same mental capacity or communication skills as humans, but the ability to feel pain and discomfort.
Not to mention, the capacity to feel suffering should be the basis for moral consideration to provide these animals a stable environment that allows

them to freely move, along with proper temperatures that aligns with their needs. Failing to provide moral consideration for lions and tigers is a form of disrespect towards the animal, which have negative effects in regards to human and animal relationship. To further elaborate, circuses are giving the wrong impression and educational values to children about the animals they see in these places. Rather than teaching children about the significance of lions and tigers in the ecosystem, they are used as objects for human entertainment. Therefore, circuses are failing to maximize the benefits of holding these animals captive and minimizing the suffering these animals experience (20).
An issue that arises with lion and tiger captivity is the lack of resources circuses have to provide the proper environment with a stable temperature (124).

These animals require an ambient temperature range, similar to that of humans to survive and live comfortably (124). However, traveling circuses do not invest in air conditioning or heaters. Therefore, subjecting their animals to extreme heat and cold, which fails to complement their required temperature range (124). A study by Texas A&M University revealed that Ringling Brothers made their caravan of tigers experience 86 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures for more than ten consecutive hours

(123).
Practices like this fail to uphold moral consideration for these animals because it compromises their health by increasing their chances of heat stroke and dehydration. In fact, severe temperatures can be fatal much faster than starvation (124). Aside from endangering their lives, these lions and tigers have to suffer under those conditions. This can be deemed as unnecessary experiences because it can be fixed with installment of air conditioning and heaters. Failing to provide reasonable temperatures for these animals reflect how circuses are not making an effort to minimize the level of discomfort their animals’ experience.
Aside from the extreme temperatures lions and tigers go through, they must also endure limitation of space. Animals whose bodies are built to roam in vast open plains are kept within limited boundaries (125). This restriction on space deprives them the freedom of bodily movement. Thus, it can be said the environment circuses provides lack the quality these animals need for normal bodily expression (124). The indirect harm that is caused through these shortcomings impacts the animals’ health and well-being, since exercise is a critical necessity (125). These implications therefore fall under unnecessary harm because it can be avoidable with proper space management of cages and providing obstacles for jumping and climbing. Also, the limitation of bodily movement imposes suffering for these animals. The reason being, it prevents comfortable body postures such as “rearing up on their hind legs” (125).
Further implications of limiting the spaces for lions and tigers can also be seen in the psychological level. Captive tigers and lions are subjected to stereotypical behavior; a term defined as repetitive actions that no goals or functions (125). This characterization is reflected upon the animals’ inhibition of expressing their natural behavior. An observation of this behavior is seen in tigers and lions walking the same path repeatedly (125). For these animals, the repletion of movement is interpreted as a sign of boredom and stress (125). Consequently, it can be said that captivity changes the behavior of tigers and lions due to the shortcomings of circuses to provide a stimulating environment and activities. These deficiencies cause distress and suffering because most of their lives will revolve around these repetitive actions. The purpose of their lives will be to serve circuses.
Another reason why circuses fail to uphold moral standards for their animals is because of controversial training methods they emplace. Aside from unnecessary harm that comes from the shortcomings of their environment, lions and tigers also face maltreatment from their trainers (126). Since training wild animals to be submissive presents difficulty and limitations, trainers are compelled to use force and deprivation of playtime (126). Criticisms of circus training methods come from former trainers themselves. Tom Rider, a former employee of Ringling Brothers testified that lions and tiger beaten as cubs (126). Further evidence of using force in training these animals come from hidden videos and documentaries (126). In fact, the website of Ringling’s circus does not deny these allegations of using force and deprivation as means of submission for their animals (126). Rather than avoiding unnecessary pain and suffering, trainers maximize harm. These unethical practices allow circuses to exploit these animals for profit using pain and suffering as means for revenue.
It can be argued that these animals deserve proper care because of the benefits circuses gain from them. They utilize these animals to gain monetary funds by making them as the main attraction. In fact, circuses are considered as a family tradition where children’s main desire is to see performing tigers and lions (124). Thus, in the overall scheme circuses owe respect to these animals because without them, then there success in business would be nonexistent.
On the other end of this spectrum are the human trainers employed by circuses to engage with these animals. Training tigers and lions endangers the lives of these individuals since these animals have predatory instructs, thus placing not only the animals in unnecessary risk but also humans (128). Between 1999 and 2004, nine people in the United States died from a tiger attack; all were from captive tigers (127). This is a reflection of circus management’s shortcomings in training their handlers to engage with these big cats. It can be said that circus management owes it to their trainers to have proper training because it places these lives in dangers.
Another ethical issue that arises with animal captivity is the educational value children are exposed to during these shows (127).

Shows comprise of predatory animals like tigers and lions performing tricks through the command of a trainer. This gives the wrong impression to children that these animals are used for amusement and as objects (127). Rather than highlighting the ecological significance and the need for conservation towards these animals, children will most likely remember them as animals that perform (128). Further implications can increase exotic pet trade, under market values, the price for a lion or tiger cub is $2,500 (127). The survival rate for these cubs are slim because 98% of all exotic pets in the United States die within the first two years (127). These are the results of treating wild animals as mere objects for human

use.
With that said, the ethical issue is not whether circuses can own lions and tigers. Rather, the moral questions asked is whether the treatment of these animals is up to the standards that go outside government regulations. The primary premise is whether these animals have to suffer and feel pain when it could have been avoided in the first place. As seen here, circuses fail to do just that. They subject lions and tigers along with other captive animals to extreme temperatures, along with maintaining cages that completely limit sufficient space for comfortable movement. The standards of minimizing pain and suffering are the opposite when it comes to treating and training these animals. Coercion of tigers and lions start at a young age because that’s the primary years for submission. Therefore, they must endure pain and suffering in order to remember tricks for shows (127).
Circuses have a moral obligation to treat these animals with care and respect because of the benefits they receive in having them. Without lions and tigers, their profits would be impacted. Furthermore, the moral problems they face in holding these animals captive are all resolvable if they invest in their welfare, thus deeming the experiences lions and tigers experience as unnecessary.