Berlin (dpa) – German officials are getting close to possibly banning elephants and other big beasts from circuses, ending a tradition of performing animals that goes back to the 19th century. Bears and monkeys would also be forbidden as performers under the big top. But officials have decided to make an exception, allowing lion and tiger taming to continue in the circus ring. Several of Germany's state governments are campaigning for the ban, prompted by animal lovers who contend that elephant acts are cruel. A resolution last month in the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament, called on the government to amend the law and ban “wild” species from circuses, while allowing domesticated species such as horses. The order paper argues that circus captivity represses the “strong instinct to move around” of big beasts and goes against “their highly developed social behavior.” It said bears prefer to be alone and become “aggressive” in human company. Also on the “ban” list are giraffes, rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses, though these are rare in Germany's hundreds of circuses. This is the Bundesrat's second bid to ban circus animals: a first attempt failed in 2003 in the face of government resistance. According to the order paper, circuses are more harmful than zoos because they are constantly on the move, keeping animals cooped up. “Given the time spent in travel, putting up the manege and striking camp, the animals don't get enough time to exercise,” it said. The opposition Green Party supports a ban, saying Germany should follow an example already set by Bulgaria and Austria. Now a pro-circus group, Animals Belong in the Circus, is pushing back, arguing that the animal-lover faction is “fanatical.” On its Facebook page, it pointed with approval to findings of an animal-behavior psychologist that company and activity are more important to most species' quality of life than space to move about. Immanuel Birmelin said scientific research showed no signs of stress hormones in animals after long truck journeys. He told the newspaper Die Welt, “In a zoo, elephants know every blade of grass in their pens and they get bored to death. A circus is a far more interesting place for them.” He said many hours of training for tricks made for healthier animals than being penned up. Elephants have a long history as circus celebrities. Jumbo, an African elephant bull, was a star of the London Zoo from 1865 to 1882 before being purchased to tour North America with the Barnum and Bailey circus until dying in an accident in 1885. The animal's name became a synonym for elephants and anything very big, including the jumbo jet. According to Birmelin, research shows only that bears cannot happily adapt to circus life and that circuses are unable to provide the constantly challenging exercise and play that a chimpanzee needs. Bettina Richter of Circus Voyage, a group representing circuses, charged that politicians were courting popularity with cheap shots at the industry. She told radio station MDR Info that thousands of jobs were at stake, as circuses would close if animal acts were banned. As the debate plays back and forth, the German Agriculture Ministry, which had opposed a ban as unnecessary, has shifted ground. It has invited the states to send to Berlin verified information about any animal species that is suffering despite strict animal-protection rules, a spokesman said. If they are not getting species-appropriate treatment, authorities will review the options. “That could ultimately lead to a ban on certain animals in circuses,” the spokesman said. Germany changed its constitution in 2000 to include the words, “The state shall protect animals.” As envisaged by the Bundesrat, the ban would be gradual, with animals that already live in circuses staying there until the ends of their lives. But the circuses would not be allowed to replace them. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/sW9X9 Tags: Animal Rights, Berlin, Circus, Germany Section: Animals, Entertainment, Europe, Latest News
