Tigers Are Being Whipped and Starved in Traveling Circus – Sign Petition to Stop This!

Undercover investigators are some of the bravest unsung heroes in the fight for animal rights. They face cruelty directly, witnessing firsthand the abuse and neglect of innocent animals, which is undoubtedly emotionally taxing, especially for those who love and value animals. Thanks to the courageous efforts of undercover investigators, however, the world has discovered the truth about how animals are exploited by humans everywhere from the meat, dairy, and egg industries, breeding facilities, laboratories, and circuses, just to name a few. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) recently went undercover to investigate how tigers were being treated by Ryan Easley, a tiger handler in charge of ShowMe Tigers, who is hired by a number of traveling circuses in the United States.

You can watch HSUS’ undercover footage here, but we warn you, the videos reveal violent abuse toward the tigers which may be difficult for some people to watch. The footage shows Easley violently whipping these gorgeous tigers relentlessly while repeatedly shouting at them. The tigers cower in fear at the sight of him, proving they have been abused by him for a long time.

When the tigers are not being whipped and forced to perform unnatural tricks, they are kept in cramped 13-square foot cages where they have to eat, sleep, and relieve themselves without any space to exercise – in fact, while the investigators were there, the exercise pens were never even unloaded from the trucks. Additionally, in the 22 days, investigators were with Easley, they witnessed the tigers being withheld food for five days.

HSUS is asking for your help to stop Easley and other circus acts that use animals. Please take a moment to sign this petition demanding circuses end their use of animals in performances if they wish to stay in business. According to the petition, in a report from Forbes magazine in November 2016, circus attendance has been down 30-50 percent in the past 20 years, which is excellent news.

Public opinion has already led to Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus announcing they will be shutting down, and the petition explains two states and 125 localities in the U.S. have already passed legislation addressing the use of wild animals in circuses. So, please share this with friends to continue spreading awareness about why supporting circuses supports violent animal cruelty!

Image Source: The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)