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#ThinkBeforeYouGo: AVOID Performing animals

#ThinkBeforeYouGo

The first one of five groups of captive wildlife activities to AVOID, as highlighted by the SATSA guidelines, is supporting facilities which keep and/or profit from performing animals.

Why avoid activities with performing animals?

  1. The animals don’t have freedom of choice
  2. There is unnecessary hands-on training and handling involved
  3. The animals are forced to exhibit unnatural behaviour
  4. It serves no educational value
  5. It serves no conservation value.

In order to perform in a public show or display, the animal would have undergone some form of training, often involving corporal punishment, tethering and/or food deprivation.

Performing animals may include: elephants, predators, primates, cetaceans (aquatic mammals such as dolphins and whales), birds and reptiles.