Animals used in traditional circus performances face welfare challenges from transport, confinement, and training methods incompatible with their physical and psychological needs.
Circus animals endure chronic welfare harm from the combination of inadequate space, social disruption, aversive training, and constant travel. Animals that perform tricks are doing so because of training involving aversive reinforcement or food restriction, not because performances are natural or enjoyable. The welfare costs are significant for the animals involved regardless of the audience enjoyment generated.