Article

This is an original article as printed in the Guardian Weekly which is suitable for advanced comprehension classes and groups. It was written by James Randerson.

Life in the circus is not so bad for animals after all

The assorted tigers, zebras and other animals that still entertain audiences in Britain's circuses are likely to keep performing for a while longer thanks to a government-backed report that says there is no evidence that circus animals are kept in worse conditions than other captive animals.

The result will delight the four circuses out of 27 that still use animals in their acts. But ministers were left with an awkward decision on whether to ban wild animals in circuses after the report failed to offer definitive guidance.

Animals in circuses are much less common in Britain than in Europe. It is estimated that just 47 animals - including crocodiles, lions, snakes and even a kangaroo - work regularly in circus rings in Britain.

The circus community argues that the animals only perform natural behaviours and are kept to the best possible welfare standards.

Animal rights organisations argue that subjecting animals to training and transport between venues for entertainment is unethical. They are furious that the report's writers were asked to look only at transportation and housing needs of non-domesticated species and not training.

"There appears to be little evidence to demonstrate that the welfare of animals kept in travelling circuses is any better or worse than that of animals kept in other captive environments," the report's academic panel of six animal welfare experts concluded.

Animal rights campaigners were dismayed at the judgment. A spokeswoman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said that although there were few studies on exotic species, studies of the transportation of other species such as farm animals could be applied to circus animals.

Those in the circuses sector say the report negates what they regard as a long campaign of smears linking circuses with cruelty. "The animal rights people have that word circus so dirty," said Petra Jackson, ring mistress at Circus Mondao. "People have to open their eyes and see what circus is all about now and not what it was about 30 years ago."

An opinion poll in October 2005 found that 80% of people in Britain agreed that the use of wild animals in circuses should be banned - 65% thought that all performing animals should be banned.

Glossary

ban something

(verb) to say officially that something must not be done

guidance

(noun) advice that is given to somebody by a person or group of people with more experience or information

campaign of smears

(noun) untrue stories about somebody that are intended to damage their reputation

negate something

(verb) to stop or prevent something from having any effect

Questions

The questions below are divided into three groups - before, during and after reading the above article.

Before reading

The article is about circuses. Put the words in the questions below in the correct order. Then work with a partner and ask/answer the questions.

1. was to time last the you when went circus the?
2. go did with who you?
3. type the animals what were in show of?
4. you did circus think of the what?
5. are why circuses in popular countries many?

Look at the headline, photo and caption of the article. Complete the paragraph below with words from the headline or caption.

Adjectives from the article. Match the adjective to the definitions.

1. awkward
2. definitive
3. dismayed
4. furious
5. unethical

1. when someone feels upset after something bad has happened
2. when a question or situation is difficult and embarrassing to deal with
3. when someone feels very angry
4. when a statement, answer etc is final and will not be changed
5. when something is not morally acceptable

While reading

Read the first three paragraphs of the article. Choose the correct word in the sentences below. Underline where you found the information in the text.

1. Wild animals are going to stop/continue performing in British circuses.
2. Circus animalslive/don't live in worse conditions than other captive animals.
3. A minority/majority of British circuses now use wild animals.
4. It is now easy/difficult for ministers to decide whether to ban wild circus animals.
5. Animal circuses are more/less frequently found in Britain than in Europe.
6. There are significant/insignificant numbers of wild animals in British circuses.

Read the rest of the article from paragraph four onwards. In which paragraph can you find the following information?

1. The circus community is angry and the campaigners have given circuses a negative image.
2. The report's authors thought the welfare of the animals was no better or worse than other captive animals.
3. Circus people say that the animals are only encouraged to act in a natural way.
4. Animal rights campaigners were disappointed by the results of the report.
5. Most British people believe that wild animals shouldn't be used in circuses.
6. Animal rights organisations are angry because the report only looked at certain things.

Read the questions below and make notes of your answers. Look back through the article. Find and underline evidence to support your ideas. Compare and discuss your answers with a partner.

1. Are British circuses different to those in your country?
2. Do British people have different attitudes towards animals compared to people in your country?

After reading

Vocabulary from the article. Use words from the following list to complete the summary below - campaigners, conditions, cruelty, dismayed, needs, sector, standards, welfare.

Activity - Debate

Follow these steps to start a debate on the statement: "The use of wild animals in circuses should be banned."

1. Give each student the role of being for or against the statement. Put them in small groups with others in the same role.
2. Students brainstorm/note ideas to support their arguments for or against.
3. Students then look back through the article and the summary gap-filling exercise for useful vocabulary.
4. Put pairs of opposing students in groups of four to debate the statement. Monitor/help with any language difficulties.
5. Carry out the debate again as a whole group. Who has the most convincing arguments?