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Santino Zertuche

Dr. Lindberg

ENGL 1302-102

7 April 2024

The Unethical Way Humans Use Animals for Entertainment: Researched Position Essay

Unfortunately, most humans view non-human animals as inferior beings. Because of this

perspective, the entertainment industry has taken advantage of these animals by using them in

zoos, circuses, marine parks, and other settings. However, these shows hide a dark truth. Though

their performances are captivating and educational displays frequently amaze audiences, those

animals are being exploited and suffering, such as forced performances, captivity, and public

exhibitions. Because of this, it is crucial to evaluate how we treat animals for entertainment in

today's world when concern over animal welfare and ethical issues are growing. As such, this

essay will go over topics on inbreeding, torture and abuse, exploitation for aggressive displays,

and the harmful effects of mistreating animals on human society.

To begin with, many places such as zoos will breed certain animals to get colorations and

patterns that will attract more people, causing more financial gain. In the Cincinnati Zoo white

tigers specifically, are their main attraction. White tigers are naturally occurring in nature but so

rare that they occur in about one in ten thousand births. Jeffery P. Cohn states “To get more white

tigers, zoo managers in India and the United States in the 1950s mated fathers with daughters,

granddaughters, and even, on occasion, great-granddaughters” (1). Inbreeding these animals

causes them to be born with genetic defects such as elongated heads and crossed eyes, that end

up holding them back from living normal fulfilled lives. Even though many Zoos have agreed to
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stop breeding white tigers completely, because of the effects it has on the animals, many still take

part in this unethical practice. The managers of these zoos overlook the animals' well-being and

health, for personal gain. According to Jeffrey, the individuals who want to keep breeding these

animals argue that “all the original white tigers were caught in the wild as adults, proving

coloration does not hinder their ability to survive.” (1). The problem here is not the coloration of

the white tigers but the inbreeding that occurs to be able to get more of them. By talking about

how they were originally found in the wild, they try to dismiss the true problem which is

inbreeding. These inbred cubs are not even guaranteed to possess the colorations the breeders are

trying to achieve but are still born with deficiencies, causing them to be thrown away.

To continue, many people attend events such as circuses and sea parks because they see

the facade that is put on to make the audience believe the animals are happy, while the truth is

they are abused. Parents will take their kids to places such as bear circuses because it is “cute” or

“entertaining”, while it is quite the opposite. Behind the colorful balloons and costumes that are

put on the participating animals there lies dark unethical doings. Cataldi talks about her

experience in a circus, and she states, “I think of the bear as defiled, and the photographer as a

pimp” (4). From the very beginning of the circus, Cataldi started seeing things that raised her

concern for the bears such as the fact that they were so calm and looked almost tranquilized.

Cataldi compares the way the photographer was to a pimp because it was as if he was selling the

bear. During the show Cataldi saw how the animals acted and realized that this was unnatural,

this caused her to research what type of training occurred for them to do such acts. Cataldi finds

through her research that, “some bears are taught to 'dance' by placing hot trays or coals beneath

their feet while music is being played” (4). Placing hot objects such as the coals that were

mentioned is only one of the thousands of torture methods used to force circus animals to do acts
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such as juggling or tippy-toeing. The animal trainers for circuses force the animals to act.

Animals are traumatized and sooner or later comply with doing tricks. Hundreds of circus

animals die yearly just for the entertainment of human beings.

Over the years organizations that fight for animal rights have worked to stop animal

fighting events and practices in which animals are provoked to hurt each other. Laws have even

been passed making these events illegal, however, this was not always the case. Years back

events such as dog and cock fighting were seen as sports and normal entertainment sources.

Robert's B. W.C. shows how normalized cock fighting was by saying “In 1860 a detailed set of

rules for fighting were published” (2). Many people, specifically wealthier individuals

participated in these fights. In society, it was seen as a sport that showed power and courage.

Thankfully over the years, people spoke out about how wrong this was and why it had to be

stopped. With time and a lot of work, it was unnormalized and seen as an unethical thing.

Rhonda D, Evans, and Forsyth Craig express that, “Historically man has encouraged lesser

species to tear themselves to shreds for his entertainment.” (4). Forcing animals to kill

themselves and praise the winner is exactly what occurs in animal fighting and even though the

articles I used focus on dogs and roosters, Rhonda D, Evans, and Forsyth Craig themselves state,

“Baiting dogs against one another as well as various other animals such as rats, bears, and bulls,

has been a common practice for hundreds of years” (4). Animals have always been used as

entertainment methods, even in the beginning of societies, and to this day is still an ongoing

problem. Thankfully recently the organizations I mentioned have raised the question, of whether

animals are treated fairly or not in the entertainment business, doing this has caused people to

start doing their research.

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When it comes to problems regarding animals, many people don't give them the

importance they deserve because they believe that these problems won't affect them, but there

are many ways we as humans and as a society get affected by the mistreatment of animals. The

reptile pet trade is popular in many different places, meaning many people ship and export

reptiles through mail. Clifford Warwick mentions, “Local transport is often conducted using

sacks or boxes on motorcycles over long distances (incurring more stress and damage); and

storage frequently incurs unsanitary holding sites with poor husbandry—all of which frequently

leads to significant stress, suffering, and death” (3). By ordering animals to be shipped to you,

you are hurting the animals and even risking their lives since the conditions they have to endure

are harsh. Yes, animals are affected by this pet trade but it doesn't stop there, humans are greatly

affected negatively as well. In contrast to popular belief we as a society also get impacted in

negative ways because of the reptile pet trade. In recent years there has been an increase in

zoonotic diseases because of the reptile pet trade and people housing “exotic” animals that they

do not know how to tend for. Reptiles specifically are beautiful creatures who are flashy and

catch the eye of many inexperienced people who are looking for a new pet. When people get a

new reptile or animal that needs extensive care and they do not know how to provide for it, not

only is the animal put at risk, but so is the caretaker. Salmonella from turtles is a great example

of how both the animal and caretaker can be affected negatively. Clifford Warwick goes into

depth about zoonotic diseases and states “Around 200 zoonotic (animal-to-human) diseases exist,

and at least 40 are associated with reptiles” (10). Many people carry these diseases and make the

problem worse while being unaware of the damage they are causing.

In conclusion, the use of animals for human entertainment exploits their well-being just

for humans to be pleased and gain profit. Whether in Sea World, Zoos, or Fighting events, the
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animals who are forced to participate go through abuse and some even die for the sake of our

entertainment. Despite the claims of the educational value these events offer or that it is natural

to use animals, these events almost always prioritize their financial gain, even if it means putting

the animals in danger. Moreover, the unethical way animals are used in the entertainment

business not only affects them but also poses a risk to human health and habitats. As seen in the

reptile pet trade zoonotic diseases are greatly spread and are a rising problem. We must prioritize

the welfare of animals and advocate for their rights if they will continue to be used for

entertainment. Only then will we be able to build a more compassionate and ethical society for

animals and humans.

Works cited:

Cataldi, Suzanne Laba. “Animals and the Concept of Dignity: Critical Reflections on a Circus

Performance.” Ethics and the Environment, vol. 7, no. 2, 2002, pp. 104–26. JSTOR,

http://www.jstor.org/stable/40339038. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.

Cohn, Jeffrey P. “Decisions at the Zoo.” BioScience, vol. 42, no. 9, 1992, pp. 654–659. JSTOR,

doi.org/10.2307/1312170. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.

Evans, Rhonda D., and Craig J. Forsyth. “Entertainment to outrage : A

social historical view of Dogfighting.” International Review of Modern Sociology, vol.

27, no. 2, 1997, pp. 59–71. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41421131. Accessed 28 Feb.

2024.

Roberts, B. W. C. “Cockfighting: An early entertainment in North Carolina.”

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The North Carolina Historical Review, vol. 42, no. 3, 1965, pp. 306–14. JSTOR,

www.jstor.org/stable/23517778. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.

Warwick, Clifford. “The Morality of the Reptile "Pet" Trade.”

Journal of Animal Ethics, vol. 4, no. 1, 2014, pp. 74–94. JSTOR,

doi.org/10.5406/janimalethics.4.1.0074. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.