Above is a photo in the Circus Gift Shop at Monte Carlo. If you look closely the tiger on the left has no fangs(anybody care to speculate, on what happened to the fangs?) With the world class "photographers" available to take photos, like the one below of the joining of "concerned animal lovers" do you suppose they could have come up with a better picture of tigers in the circus?" Have we become to busy glad handing and double cheek kissing to be aware of the "context" or the "big picture." Least we forget, this is the location that is "setting" the standard that donated confiscated circus leopards to Born Free as their captive life was inadequate. The photo above used to promote is also I suggest inadequate. But do we hide it or avoid it? The games we play with physical wellbeing of the animal, totally ignoring the mental, is ludicrous and very short sighted. The gentleman standing on the left of Steffie is the promoter of the circus in Maine where the elephant Ned made one of his pubic appearances earlier this year. Anybody have any thoughts, or is the perception of caring/perception of knowledge, in an effort to make a living and to be "included," the most important thing about animal welfare?
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Context--What is said, what is shown and what is perceived
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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17 comments:
Mary Ann,
We had a number of animal people here today, that didn't care to speculate on what happened to the tigers teeth. Or we can assume they have never seen an animal with missing teeth, and don't know, so I will ask you.
You may not have worked closely with felines for any great time, but I suggest you have looked at/photographed or seen almost as many as anybody else. Have you ever seen a feline with it's fangs gone, and if so what was the circumstance? Of all of the zoo procures, guide books, advertising material that you have looked at were there any fangless felines, broken horned antelope, twisted legged gorilla pictures used for advertising and or endorsing the animal wonder of the institution? Would it be in Cincinnati's best interest to send Christmas cards with a white tiger with his fangs gone? Sometimes cultured, sophisticated folks aren't too bright.
Wade
The two most common causes in captivity are likely, dragging a tooth along a cable on a guillotine door which cuts a groove and weakens the tooth which later falls out. Or the Stick-to-mouth extraction.
Wade, I have never seen a feline with its fangs gone, either that I have looked at or photographed, or in any zoo brochures, guide books, or advertising material. These advertisements or endorsements do not portray fangless felines, broken horned antelope, or gorillas with twisted legs for the obvious reason that someone would question the care that these animals were getting. It would not be in any zoo's best interests to send Christmas cards with a white tiger with his fangs gone. It is incomprehensible to me why the Circus Gift Shop at Monte Carlo would have a such a photo, which only gives the AR nuts more fuel for their fire. People need to be made more aware, and not look past something because they are blinded by the reputation, advertising, and glitter of certain organizations. I believe that fangs are sometimes deliberately removed, sometimes broken off through the mistakes of the trainer, or sometimes broken off by the animal himself. If that had been on a smaller show, somebody would have noted the missing teeth and it would have been an issue, casting doubts on the individual's ability or the animal care of the organization. Because it is Monte Carlo or Krone, it is overlooked or avoided so as to make everything seem perfect. People need to learn to judge all circuses and all acts the same. This makes a good case for setting standards to be adhered to by everyone.
Mary Ann
Casey,
Most animals haven't been around cables for the past 15 years. There is a more common factor, which will some times account for one, possibly two in a captive situation.
Wade
Mary Ann,
These photos aren't for sale. They are displayed as a "history of the best 0 the best."
Wade
Wade, is this Susan Lacey's act?
Mary Ann
Mary Ann,
No, it is Hawthorns act.
Wade
Wade, who was the presenter?
Mary Ann
Mary Ann,
Susan Lacey. Remember a few day's ago in reference to a horse going on a stage? Madame Col. stated that for the sake of the horse she was glad, I didn't finish it, because it would have had a bad life at the hands of the ones he was left to? And suggested I should always consider that? That tiger is Mischa who I trained in 1989 and delivered to Alan Gold. What part of the end result of his life, is my responsibility? Is responsibility in training your own animals not a different situation from the responsibility of training animals for others?
Wade
Wade, definitely no part of the end result of his life is your responsibility. Responsibility in training your own animals is a very different situation from the responsibility of training animals for others. This was also discussed in the recent past with regard to certain elephants.
Mary Ann
Mary Ann,
My responsibility in an animals life is something I have hammered myself with for 34 years.
Wade
Wade, and you have probably been far more conscientious than most.
Mary Ann
Mary Ann,
When you quit questioning the life you have set them on, and what their future will be, you have done them a great injustice.
Wade
I don't think "most" animals is an accurate statement, which ones are and which ones aren't? I can list five acts that are still cable drawn doors, and can only think of about 12 acts here in the states. How many acts are you counting?
Casey,
I am not counting acts, I am counting cages this tiger or any others from Hawthorn would have come into contact with in the past 15 years.
Wade
Sorry to disagree Mary Ann but Wade is right on this one.
All of us who have had an input into an animal's upbringing have some responsibility to that animal.
If the animal is not ours and we have no say on outcomes concerning that animal, then our responsibility is diminished. We have an obligation to speak up for it but beyond that there's not much more that we can do.
But if we own it we have full responsibility for it while we do so and we also have a responsibilty to see that it goes from us in to the best possible situation. I can fully understand Wade's 34 years of self flagellation. On two occasions I have raised and trained animals that I subsequently sold. On the first occasion one of my animals attacked a person who was presenting them although not trained by me to do so. I felt [and still feel] responsible for the situation that animal was placed in and it's ultimate fate. It should never have been presented by a novice, should never have been allowed to get away with running the act and should never have been shot and stuffed for doing what comes naturally. The owner of the act and the presenter [his son] also hold me responsible for selling them a "dud" animal. So I'm responsible every which way!
In the second case I sold a beautiful young seat broke lioness to a circus owner. She ended up being "worked" by a pre-historic boofhead and I very nearly ended up divorced! I failed in my duty of care to an animal that we had brought in to the world, nurtured and trained.
Won't do that again!!!
Steve, I appreciate very much your sharing these experiences with us, and any pain or regret you may feel as a result. However, I believe that you did your best to place the animals in good situations, and could not foresee the outcomes. This applies not only to animal trainers, but to all of us, in all the major decisions that we make in our lives. Often the best people are the ones most critical of themselves, and others just go on their merry way, thinking that they are the greatest and that things are fine and dandy, without regard to people or animals that they have hurt.
Mary Ann
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