Another circus is coming and, as usual, people are getting excited about the animals. Of course, families love the circus. It is good entertainment and provides an opportunity to see beautiful animals up close.

When you think about it, however, a circus featuring wild animals doing all kinds of tricks is nothing but cruel. The truth about circuses is very disturbing. The animals, whether taken from the wild or born in captivity, obviously do not perform those tricks naturally. They have to be taught and how else do you teach a wild animal to jump through a ring of fire or balance on a tight rope if not by torture and abuse? These animals know that if they do not perform their trick right, they will be whipped. Why are they scared of the whip had it not been used on them before?

These poor animals are deprived of their basic, natural need to roam free, are forced into cages throughout their lives and transported in carriages for long hours. On top of it all, they have to perform unnatural tricks and all this is for an hour of our entertainment.

The circus people argue that they love their animals and they treat them with love and care, yet they never prove this with videos of their training methods.

Children are better off seeing documentaries on Animal Planet. The only thing that animal circuses teach children is to laugh at and mock the suffering of animals.

What difference would it make not going to watch them? Circuses still come here year after year. What difference will one fewer person in a crowd of thousands make? People have the power to change things. In unity, there is strength. If you speak to your aunt, your cousin and your neighbour and manage to open their eyes about circus cruelty, we can make a difference. Together we can get circuses banned from Malta, like they are getting banned from other European countries.

Spread the word on social network sites and anywhere you can. Let’s make 2012 the last year for animal circuses to come to Malta and Gozo.