Ringling: The End of An Era

[The Interpreter]

Tonight, in Providence, Rhode Island, when the elephant act ends, the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus will no longer have elephants performing.

Truly, the end of an era.

[freaks76]

The way it's going, before we know it there won't be any animal acts, anywhere.

 

Cruelty to animals??? I don't know if it is or not, but the animal acts were my favorite as a kid.

 

what a shame.

[disco2000]

Yep, I heard folks in line over the weekend complaining about the yet to be seen stunt dog show and the cruelty to animals that show is.

[bkroz]

If you visit a SeaWorld or Busch Gardens park, you'll likely see a "pet" show where common, domesticated animals (dogs, cats, rats) do funny things. I'm sure this is the formula Kings Island is hoping to emulate. The difference is that the SeaWorld parks are wildlife-focused parks where I believe that vets, zoologists, and animal trainers are part of the full-time staff. To me, that's what makes it feel different at Kings Island, even if the care is just as top notch. Same reason I felt a little "ehhh" about Kentucky Kingdom having seals. Still, even without seeing the "behind the scenes" care and housing of the animals, I suspect there'll be nothing "cruel" about the way this show will be done at Kings Island. Far from it.

 

I hope that Kings Island borrows something else from the SeaWorld Parks, where they always make sure to point out that all the animals featured in the show were adopted from local animal shelters (with a "check your local shelters first" message) and often comment that many of the animals were dropped off at the shelter when their previous owners decried that they were "untrainable" (earning a nice laugh from the crowd). But if the animals are loved and cared for by their trainers and positive reinforcement is used to patiently modify behaviors, it's really no different than teaching your dog to fetch or sit or shake. 

 

Where I work, we train animals to perform behaviors they wouldn't naturally. Luckily, our position as educators gives us the benefit of being able to explain how conditioning and positive reinforcement work, and how training behaviors can be beneficial to society.

 

If there's anything we've learned from Blackfish, it's that intelligence does have something to do with. Training lab rats to play basketball feels different from hauling elephants around in trucks and leaving orcas to grow up in tanks doing tricks. 

[electricsun]

I hope that Kings Island borrows something else from the SeaWorld Parks, where they always make sure to point out that all the animals featured in the show were adopted from local animal shelters (with a "check your local shelters first" message) and often comment that many of the animals were dropped off at the shelter when their previous owners decried that they were "untrainable" (earning a nice laugh from the crowd). But if the animals are loved and cared for by their trainers and positive reinforcement is used to patiently modify behaviors, it's really no different than teaching your dog to fetch or sit or shake.

The Columbus Zoo does this type of show as well. The first several times they talked about rescuing the animals I teared up. (No laughing bkroz - I'm sure you're not surprised). There is something wonderful about animals deemed "unworthy" being rescued and having a second chance at life.

I don't believe the animals are forced to do these tricks. I saw the predator show at BGW this past summer and watched as one of the animals decided to ignore all the cues and just walked around the stage. The presenter and handler just laughed and explained that this is the process and the animals have a choice.

If anyone is interested in seeing how powerful positive reinforcement can be with rescued animals, check out Lucky Dog on CBS.

http://cbsdreamteam.com/lucky-dog/show-background/

[CedarPointer]

 

 

I hope that Kings Island borrows something else from the SeaWorld Parks, where they always make sure to point out that all the animals featured in the show were adopted from local animal shelters (with a "check your local shelters first" message) and often comment that many of the animals were dropped off at the shelter when their previous owners decried that they were "untrainable" (earning a nice laugh from the crowd).

Worlds of Fun had a show that sounds similar to the KI one, and they did exactly that.

[Tr0y]

No more Orca shows at Seaworld, no more elephant shows from Ringling.. What is becoming of our world.

[Tanna]

Well, to be honest, my first thought was, "at least the circus will smell better."

Elephants eat a lot of onions.

 

Now I'm wondering if PETA is coming after my dog- She is a CDX; "Companion Dog Excellent". She does a pretty mean high and broad jump, which can be misconstrued as entertaining.

[shark6495]

I'm sort of split. I hate seeing animals abused/etc.

However, as like the top species on the planet.... Sometimes it's hard to balance the idea that we can domesticate animals for our needs (entertainment and work) and that we think animals have souls

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[calakapepe]

I agree! I love seeing exotic species! But, I don't want them abused.. additionally.. when I go to the circus.. I don't really care what the animals are doing.. seriously, I don't. I come to see the acrobatics and amazing stunts.

[Steph88]

I'm more excited to see an elephant just doing elephant things rather than doing tricks. They often have pretty entertaining personalities on their own!

[The Interpreter]

I agree! I love seeing exotic species! But, I don't want them abused.. additionally.. when I go to the circus.. I don't really care what the animals are doing.. seriously, I don't. I come to see the acrobatics and amazing stunts.

...who may themselves be being abused.

So much concern for animals, so little for...

[calakapepe]

"May"

And the people aren't trained against will, even if they feel like they are.

[Tanna]

I have a confession- I absolutely can't stand pet monkeys. I hate their pants, and their attitudes, and their always reaching out for people to give them something. I cannot stand that they are so rude and ill-mannered.

But I can watch webcams of those Japanese hot tub momkeys, no problem. If a hot tub monkey baby gets out of line, he gets smacked. Not so with those pet monkey.

With all of the businesses letting go their animals. I suspect there's a hole to be filled by running live cams at a safe unobstrusive apce, allowing people to view the animals in the wild.

[IBEW_Sparky]

I read that first line, and thought we had gone from talking about Circus animals to a large percentage of today's adolescents.

 

 

When it comes to Circus animals, I will say that Im in 100% agreement of making sure that the exotic animals that are used as performers are not trained in an abusive or improper way.   And while I understand an elephant wasnt "instinctually designed" to stand with its front feet/paws on a big platform while balancing a rubber ball on its trunk or a lion to have a person's head in its mouth without making said head an appetizer, does training them to do so harm them, if they are born into that environment?  If they arent being physically abused in he training process, the only thing I could POSSIBLY see that is less than ideal is keeping them penned, but then even that makes me look at zoos and the fact that those animals arent in their "natural wide open environment".