Barbaric circus?

But this year, there’ll be some other much more shocking posters to deal with. The sort that make us question the whole circus tradition.

PAN, the new political party for animals and nature, has launched a hard-hitting campaign to make people aware of the living conditions and routines of circus animals.

Using very black humour, PAN’s posters proclaim: “Barbaric Circus presents tortured and mistreated elephants, bears, monkeys and seals! Roll-up for the biggest and best performance of barbarity towards animals in the world!” And finally: “Come along, and bring your children!”

Politics apart - and despite the fact that various authorities (from ASAE to the SEPNA branch of the GNR) are at work - there are many cases of animal cruelty in circuses. Animals are invariably kept in inadequate conditions - frequently cramped up, often chained.

From a young age they’re forced to learn dance routines, balancing tricks, how to ride bicycles, and other “attractions” to bring people in – all of them far removed from their natural forms of behaviour. Once “schooled” in this way, even if the creatures were returned to their natural habitats, they could never survive. PAN’s protest is one that has a lot of support.

ANIMAL – the 16-year-old animal rights association – is launching a new protest this month against the use of animals in circuses. On Sunday 18th December, two national demonstrations are planned - in Lisbon and Oporto.

“ANIMAL’s appeal is loud and clear: don’t contribute to the misery and suffering of circus animals. Don’t allow them to go on being cruelly exploited in this way. The solution is simple: don’t go to circuses that use animals! Suffering, fear and pain shouldn’t be the basis of a show…”

Over the years, ANIMAL has received lots of complaints about animal cruelty via social networking sites.

And a few years ago, the “New Circus” movement was born. This seeks to create travelling shows based on traditional circus acts. The most famous exponents of New Circus are “Cirque du Soleil” and “Cirque Plume”. Others have started up – even in Portugal. Focus in these new circuses is on juggling, acrobatics, contortionism, magic, horse-riding and other feats, like mono-cycling and fire-eating. Music also plays an important part.

The only things you won’t find in a new circus are performing animals…

The issue will remain a point of controversy, but we can all make a difference by raising a new generation that realises it is perfectly possible to maintain the tradition of Christmas circuses ... without causing suffering to animals.