Animal Rights: Circuses, Zoos, and Aquariums of The 60s

Animal rights! What are you talking about? The animals are fine, and they’re here for my enjoyment. So, what happened?

Even though circuses, zoos, and aquariums still exist, they are no longer the big draw they were in the past. Somehow, society has developed a conscience. People have become more aware and concerned about how animals have been treated by their captors and caregivers in the name of entertainment and even education.

The Golden Era: Circuses, Zoos, and Aquariums in the 1960s

Circuses

When I was a kid growing up on the prairies of Canada, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to town only once a year, in the spring. Elementary schools gave out free or discounted tickets (I don’t remember which) to every student. It was a three-ring circus under the big top with at least three things going on simultaneously.

Clowns and acrobats, always with Italian names, were on the tightrope or trapeze. The ringmaster constantly gave a play-by-play of what was happening in each ring, what act was there, and who was on deck. With so much excitement, we didn’t know where to look. But the show’s stars, at least for me, were always the wild, exotic animals. Without them, the circus was just people.

Imagine the thrill for kids if they could witness two lions growling and clawing at each other, or even more exciting, a lion attacking the lion tamer. It never occurred to us that the animals may have been mistreated behind the scenes.

Zoos

There was never a zoo in Regina, my city of birth and where I lived until I was 16. However, there was one about a 45-minute drive away in the smaller city of Moose Jaw. My family went there a few times, and later, when I was older, we went to an even bigger zoo in Calgary. Both zoos were interesting. It was a great opportunity to see animals that weren’t native to Canada and even read a little about them. We never thought too much about them being in cages. We just assumed that the cages were for our protection.

Years later, as a young adult with my own family, we would go to the Okanagan Game Farm in Penticton, BC, every summer. It was a much better environment for the animals than a zoo because they had 270 hectares (670 acres) of rolling hills to roam. However, it was divided into sections for the different species. But they were still in captivity. The Okanagan Game Farm was one of the main attractions in the Okanagan Valley from June 1967 until March 1999, when it closed due to provincial wildlife regulations.

Closer to where I live now, there was even a small zoo in Stanley Park in Vancouver. It had a variety of domestic and foreign animals, including a wolf pack, sea otters, polar bears, penguins, parrots, and other tropical birds. Stanley Park Zoo closed in 1996 due to concerns about animal cruelty.

There is still a zoo in Aldergrove, BC, a suburb of Vancouver. The Greater Vancouver Zoo boasts 140 species on almost 49 hectares (120 acres). Animal activist groups and the general public closely monitor this establishment. Every once in a while, there is a news report of an animal dying in unusual or unexplained circumstances, but the Greater Vancouver Zoo continues. I was only there once, many years ago. It made me sad to see the tiger pacing back and forth from one end of its enclosure to the other.

Aquariums

Aquariums still exist almost intact compared to the 60s. So what do aquariums have going for them that circuses and zoos don’t? Education, of course, and possibly rehabilitation.

Animals in circuses were there purely for entertainment. The “wow factor”. There was no educational value in seeing animals perform in the circus other than to be able to say that you saw an exotic animal live. But were they really living? The circus animals, more often than not, lived in harsh conditions. They were constantly chained, tethered, or caged, travelling from location to location. Their lives were very restricted, with no resemblance whatsoever to their natural habitats.

Some zoos were perhaps a little better for the animals than circuses. One of the justifications of those who are pro-zoos is that the animals are in a protected environment, safe from predators. However true, it’s a stretch as a justification for zoos. Is a life of confinement really a life at all? As for education, we can see the animals up close, but nothing more than that.

So why are aquariums still somewhat popular? Most aquariums worldwide have reduced or eliminated larger aquatic animals from their displays and performances in large tanks. They now concentrate on displays with smaller creatures, which can be educational. They also take in injured animals and rehabilitate them before re-releasing them into the wild. Even though these efforts have been met with skepticism and criticism, neither circuses nor zoos can claim the same. So, where does that leave us?

Animal Rights Activist Groups

Animal rights activists and groups started to appear in the 1970s. They began to expose some of the cruelty that various well-known companies used on animals. They directly attacked society’s preconceptions of how these companies treated animals in industries that benefited the human race.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, more commonly known by its acronym, PETA, is an American-based animal rights non-profit organization. Its logo is a baby blue circle with PeTA in white lettering and a cute white rabbit running away from someone or something. Don’t let the cuteness fool you; they mean business. Founded in 1980, PETA quickly became a thorn in the side of organizations that exploited animals, domestic or foreign. PETA is against the mistreatment of animals in any way.

The three main topics of this essay, circuses, zoos, and aquariums, are obvious places where animals have been and, in some cases, still are mistreated. However, PETA has sought out other not-so-well-known or obvious areas of animal mistreatment. In their support for animal rights, they have gained sympathy and support. They have exposed situations that have made the general public feel uncomfortable.

Their research methods to ensure animal rights are sometimes frowned upon, but they get results. Members will get hired into companies where they suspect animal abuse to be taking place. They make copies of documents and even take videos of the abuse to use as evidence. At times, members of PETA have been considered radicals in their methods, but there is no denying that they get results. Some of the scenes of animal abuse uncovered by PETA are just too graphic and gruesome to discuss here. Check out the details on Wikipedia.

PETA has been instrumental in:

Exposing cosmetic companies that test new products on animals
Encouraging fast food restaurants to offer vegetarian options
Influencing fashion designers to stop using fur in their creations

Greenpeace

Greenpeace is a global network founded in 1971 by Canadian environmental activists. It is even more than an animal rights activist group. It is out to save and protect the world as we know it. Members involve themselves in issues such as climate change, deforestation, overfishing, commercial whaling, genetic engineering, anti-war, and anti-nuclear.

Greenpeace is a nonviolent organization with members worldwide. It raises public awareness of issues threatening our world, wherever it sees them. It is perhaps the most visible environmental organization in the world. Greenpeace’s funding comes from individual donations and grants. Therefore, it is not responsible in any way to large corporations or individual governments.

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

An article about animal rights wouldn’t be complete without referencing your local SPCA. This organization, in its regional variations, truly is a worldwide organization. Suppose an animal is in danger, “Who you gonna call?” (And the answer ain’t Ghostbusters). Members of the SPCA will always make themselves available upon request. If you notice that a dog or cat is being mistreated, call the SPCA. If a wild animal is caught in an unfortunate situation, call the SPCA. They will refer you to the appropriate agency if they are unable to help.

Interestingly, each city, province, or region has its own SPCA. Locally, we have The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, BC SPCA. Fairly recently, there have been stories in the news about the BC SPCA investing:

A cat lady who loved her cats dearly but was no longer able to care for them properly.
Passersby heard sounds from a waste bin that turned out to be a severely injured pup.
A herd of horses in the Cariboo region that were not being taken care of.

These are just a few examples of situations the SPCA looks into based on complaints it receives. Some complaints are frivolous or mere misunderstandings, but some are particularly troubling. All are taken seriously and investigated.

Conclusion

Animals are people too, so to speak. They are living creatures with feelings. They feel pain: physical, emotional, and psychological.

Our pets especially give us more than we give to them. They can cheer us up when we are sad and entertain us with their antics. They give us unqualified love and loyalty and should receive the same in return.

The above essay is for entertainment and English language study only. For suggestions on how to use this post to improve your English reading and listening comprehension, click here.

Vocabulary

animal rights – noun; the right of animals to be free from abuse or exploitation by humans; the right of animals to live a natural life
draw – noun; a person or thing that draws customers, attention, etc.; something that brings in customers (in this context)
conscience – noun; a moral sense of right and wrong; seeing the wrong in a situation
captor – noun; a person who takes or holds (a person, etc.) captive; a person who takes a wild animal from its natural surroundings (in this context)
simultaneously – adverb; occurring or operating at the same time; at the same time
on deck – idiom; the next act coming (in this context)
mistreated – transitive verb – past participle; treated wrongly, badly, or abusively; abused or not taken care of
boasts – transitive verb; own or have as something praiseworthy, etc.; to be proud of
intact – adjective; entire; undamaged; the same as before
rehabilitation – noun; heal; make well
resemblance – noun; a likeness or similarity; almost the same
predator – noun; an animal naturally preying on others; a natural enemy of an animal (in this context)
justification – noun; the justice or rightness of ( person, act, etc.); a good reason
confinement – noun; the state of being confined; unable to leave
skepticism – noun; a skeptical attitude in relation to accepted ideas, facts, etc.; an attitude of hard to believe
activist – noun; a person trying to bring about social or political change; a person promoting social change
graphic – adjective; vividly descriptive; conveying all (esp. unwelcome or unpleasant); unsettling details
gruesome – adjective; horrible, grisly, disgusting; horrible things you don’t want to see
frivolous – adjective; (of a claim, charge, etc.) having no reasonable grounds; not as serious as reported
so to speak – idiom; a comparison not to be taken literally

Comprehension Questions

Do animals have rights?
Yes or No
Which circus is mentioned in this essay?
How many rings did the circus have?
(a) one, (b) two, (c) three, or (d) four
What names did the acrobats have?
(a) Canadian, (b) British, (c) German, or (d) Italian
How many hectares was the Okanagan Game Farm?
(a) 70, (b) 270, (c) 470, or (d) 670
In what year did the Stanley Park Zoo in Vancouver close?
(a) 1986, (b) 1996, (c) 2006, or (d) 2016
How many different species does the Greater Vancouver Zoo have?
(a) 140, (b) 150, (c) 160, or (d) 170
What is the acronym for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals?
(a) PFTETOA, (b) PETA, (c) PTA, or (d) PET

Answers

Resources

Wikipedia

And Now For Your Listening Enjoyment

Here is a quirky sing-along from The Beatles. It’s about the “sport” of trophy hunting, which involves killing wild and exotic animals just for the fun of it. It’s a costly hobby for those with more money than they need rather than helping the less fortunate. Let’s listen to the Beatles performing “The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill” from their 1968 White Album.

The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
performed by The Beatles (1968)
written by John Lennon (Lennon & McCartney)

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

He went out tiger hunting with his elephant and gun
In case of accidents he always took his mum
He's the all American bullet-headed saxon mother's son
All the children sing

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

Deep in the jungle where the mighty tiger lies
Bill and his elephants were taken by surprise
So Captain Marvel zapped him right between the eyes
All the children sing

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

The children asked him if to kill was not a sin
"Not when he looked so fierce", his mummy butted in
"If looks could kill it would have been us instead of him"
All the children sing

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill
Bungalow Bill?