The use of wild and domestic animals in circuses has been largely phased out in progressive countries, driven by evidence that training methods and living conditions are incompatible with good welfare.
Circus welfare problems arise from multiple converging factors: the incompatibility of wild animal behavioral needs with constant travel and temporary housing, training methods that historically relied on fear and pain to produce performances, and social isolation from appropriate companions. Even domestic animals trained with positive reinforcement methods face welfare costs from repetitive performance schedules and constant public exposure. The global trend toward wild animal circus bans reflects growing public and regulatory recognition that entertainment does not justify these welfare costs.