In 2017, circus-goers in China experienced a terrifying moment as they were watching animals in a cage. Though the video is low-quality, it looks like there are monkeys and a tiger in the cage with a pair of circus performers. Since about 1831, when the French trainer Henri Martin was working in Germany and is presumed to have entered a cage with a tiger, wild animals have been a part of the circus. Around this time, elephants, bears, monkeys, and horses all played prominent roles in other plays that were presented in theaters and circuses. During the 2017 performance, the audience begins to shriek as one of the tigers appears to start slashing through the spaces of the cage walls. Eventually, the circus performer checks the tiger and the large cat backs off. One thing humans should always be aware of is: wild animals are always wild, no matter how much they’ve been trained. The tiger quickly makes another bolt toward the side of the cage and spectators begin to flee. Two children were injured during the break-out and spent the following two days in the hospital.
History of Tigers in the Circus
Big cats are frequently made to live in teeny, claustrophobic cages in circuses. Lions and tigers are often denied the chance to exercise, wander, and play because circuses transport their animals from city to city in sterile cages. Many large cats are compelled to urinate, eat, sleep, and drink in the same location. Many only see some reprieve from their essentially constant captivity during their brief appearances, when they are exposed to public boos and whippings. They are trained by being punished and denied food. Because no official organization oversees training sessions, circuses may quickly get away with daily mistreatment. Big cats are struck with sticks by their handlers as they are dragged by thick chains around their necks. One of the most infamous acts you’ll see at a circus is a tiger jumping through rings of fire. Tigers have an instinctive fear of fire. However, they are made to leap through burning hoops as part of numerous circus shows. Handlers must consistently reprimand animals who do not cooperate in order to train tigers to perform these risky leaps. Tigers won’t engage in such antics until they have overcome their innate fear of fire and the pain and punishment that comes with it.
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