Welfare of Animals Used in Entertainment: Circuses and Film

Animals used in entertainment — circus performances, film and television, advertising — face training and housing welfare challenges that have driven bans on wild animal circuses across many jurisdictions.

Key Facts

England and Scotland banned the use of wild animals in travelling circuses from 2020.
Over 40 countries have full or partial bans on wild animal circus acts.
Animals trained for film and advertising were historically subjected to aversive training methods; modern productions use positive reinforcement.
The American Humane Association monitors film productions to enforce "No Animals Were Harmed" certification standards.
Domestic animal circus acts — dogs, horses, doves — remain legal in most jurisdictions with welfare requirements.

Welfare Considerations

Wild animals in circus environments face welfare challenges inherent to the logistics of travelling performance: repeated transport, temporary and substandard housing, and training methods that historically relied on aversive techniques. The legislative trend toward banning wild animal circus acts reflects growing public consensus that entertainment does not justify these welfare costs. Film and television animal use has improved significantly through positive training requirements and on-set welfare monitoring, but hidden camera investigations periodically reveal ongoing abuses in productions without adequate oversight.

What You Can Do

Avoid attending circuses or shows featuring wild animal performances.
Choose entertainment productions that use computer-generated animals rather than live animals.
Support wild animal circus bans in countries without existing legislation.
Report suspected animal abuse during film or advertising productions to relevant authorities.
Follow the American Humane Association and RSPCA on entertainment animal welfare standards.