VEGA chose to take the law into her own hands, front legs to be more precise, as Vega is a lioness. She is one of the wild animals forced to ‘perform’ in one of the travelling circuses in Russia. Instead of obeying the commands of her trainer, Vega decided to ‘settle the scores’ with the hapless guy by pouncing and injuring him in front of a horrified audience a few days ago.
Vega is not the first animal to react in a recalcitrant manner to their trainers whom they rightly perceive as torturers. It has happened in Russia itself and elsewhere too.
The nations allowing wild animals in circuses are an endangered species themselves. Apparently, close to 30 countries have totally banned the use of wild animals in circuses. Almost 50 countries prohibit or limit the use of any animal in such shows.
Animal right activists have been vocal in their call for proscription of the practice. Essentially, a circus tent is not the habitat of such animals and training (torment, more aptly put) and travel take the toll on these beasts weaned away from their cosy jungles. They don’t wish to sit on a tiny stool and monkey around as per the instructions of their handler. But fear of punishment makes them do so, well mostly!
‘Vega act’ is one more proof of animals/nature asserting their frustration over human greed. Indeed, we have heard enough of ‘nature’s vengeance’ in the recent past after corona changed our lives. Let one plank of the pandemic-induced pathos be to pave the way for animal-free circuses.
Circus presents one of the extreme forms of subjugation of animals by the homo sapiens. There are other less taxing manifestations like zoos. Reform over the last century has made many zoos give way for more hospitable wildlife parks/zoological gardens where the cage is discarded to replicate the natural habitat of the animals. One should still admit that a menagerie in any form does shackle the animals’ freedom to live lives in their domain. But then, they are spared from forced fake acts!
Bahrain has a reasonably well kept Al Areen Wildlife Park and Reserve. For the size of the island, this one facility is adequate. Hence the government seems to be right in resisting the demands for one more zoo (’Zoo plan setback’, GDN, May 25).
Let’s not incarcerate more animals just for our pleasure.
Vish
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