Sunday, November 9, 2008
For RJR--Footage of Circus Barum's Tsavo by Prof. Dr. Zeeb
This video was taken in 1994, 14 years ago. Tsavo appears to be a fully mature adult. How old would you estimate him to be. I can't seen to find anybody who knows for sure.
For Casey--Prof. Dr. Zebb films
Can anyone tell us about Prof. Dr. Zeeb? He sells what I have been told are "training instructional tapes" In looking through his list, I note that they are for the majority about 18-20 minutes in length. Not much of an instruction I would think. In looking at these clips from you tube, everything appears to be about 90% completed and no real training is shown. They seem to be documentaries of the various trainers in Europe and are all staged or set.
Animal laws in differing countries???
"People from outside the industry of the Circus may not realize some of the difficulties faced by folk's involved with an industry that is truly global, and in need of a consistency and "Word Standard" for the husbandry of captive animals in a transient/moving environment.
Imagine trying to operate a legal, global business being told you can't sell your product here. We'll buy your wheat, but your corn is against the law. I should hope the 25 member nations with the inclusion of the United States in this "global community" would all have the exact same agenda, and not be "for each his own."
"Here's Denmark's take on the performing animal situation Nov. 5, 2008:
In principle Danish legislation does not permit a circus to present wild animal acts. Only domestic animals are permitted. However, the Ministry of Justice can grant exemptions. And by tradition such exemptions have been granted for elephants and sealions but not for lions, tigers and other big cats. In 2003 a committee suggested that such exemptions should not be granted any longer resulting in a ban of elephants and sealions in Danish circuses.
"Oddly elephants and sea mammals which are a major issue in the United States, are/were acceptable in Denmark, but not felines. Horse's in stalls are acceptable, but not camels or Zebra's. Or possibly Camels are accepted as domestic, or possibly not?"
However many Danes wanted to protect the rights of circuses and trainers to continue to present animals as part of the classical circus. And the Minster of Justice did listen to their arguments and established in March 2007 a working group and asked them to consider the matter and deliver a report. According to the proposal/report it will still be possible to present elephants and sealions in circuses in Denmark. And it will still be impossible to present bears, big cats etc.
The proposal is not unanimously as three members of the working group were in favour of a total ban of elephants and sealions in circuses. The other members saw no reason for such ban if animals can be ensured good living conditions.
Many of the working group’s proposals are in line with the ECA code of conduct.
Animals must be housed as appropriate for their species. They must be provided with protection from the weather, a clean dry stables / living area, fresh bedding, and freedom of movement within their enclosure. Suitable barriers must be in place between the public and the animals. Specific requirements are set for each specimen:
When touring the elephants shall at each circus lot have access to a pen of no less than 100 square metres to be increased to 150 square metres if more than two elephants in the pen. For each elephant an elephant groom shall watch the elephant whenever it is outside the transportation vehicle."In the winter months, is the above recommended pen required inside the heated tent? Or is it not required for periods of time? Do I understand that if you have 3 elephants you must have 3 grooms, and if you have 15 elephants you must have 15 grooms?"
As for sealions they shall at each circus lot have access to a basin (tank) being at least 1.2 metres deep and holding at least 50 cubic metre of water.
"In regards to sea lions, I don't have a clue. Maybe our European friends or Jim Alexander can help by explaining what is protocol. In regards to this tank which is at least 1.2 metres deep and holding at least 50 cubic metre of water, how is this water maintained, filtered during the winter months? Is it not required for short periods of time?"
Also for horses, camels, dogs, birds etc. the proposal contains specific requirements.
Transportation of animals must be appropriate for the species and individuals involved. Also here specific requirements are set up. All animal training must be based on operant conditioning and the use of positive reinforcement and repetition of desired behaviours. Training should showcase individual animals’ natural behaviours and athletics. Training must not place an animal in danger nor cause physical injury or psychological stress.
"There it is "psychological stress!!!!!" As far as I know, in reading thousands of reports over the years, it is something that has never been addressed adequately in the circus. WHAT is psychological stress, and WHAT causes it?" It is my fervent hope and dream that someday when it is decided finally what is adequate for an animal physically, regardless of what Circus he is in around the world, they might then spend time on WHAT is psychological stress, and WHAT causes it? If they started with WHOM, they would arrive at WHAT very quickly, and also come to the conclusion, it has nothing to do with physical? It might jump start a valid "Standardized Qualification Requirement" that would eliminate "cute and charming" as a requisite for Animal Training in the Circus, and as consistency is established you would see psychological stress disappear, assuming you have established WHAT it is."
The proposal have now been submitted to circuses, animal right organisation etc. for consideration. They are all invited to give their comments by 2 December 2008. Following that the Minster and the Government will consider the proposal from the working group. It seems likely that the final rules set out by the Parliament and the Minister of Justice will be in line with the proposal from the working group. The rules will enter into force as of 1 January 2010.
Keeping it balanced
"This off the Monte Carlo website, which is a move in the right direction, but I also see it as an elimination of American cage acts ever going to Monaco, it being the Best 0 the Best from around the world don't you know, except for a very, very, very, rare circumstance/situation. I think what they and the ECA have done, possibly without realizing it, has been to endorse a set of standards which fit's their environment, but not the environment of the "World Circus," possibly unknowingly making it a closed elitist "World Circus" in once again, an effort to "get mine, forget everyone else."
The traditional circus will be represented with numbers of animals, selected according to strict criteria of the European Association of Cirque. Are put forward criteria such as living conditions of animals, the size of their cage, their daily treatment and care they provided.
ECA code of conduct.
Animals must be housed as appropriate for their species. They must be provided with protection from the weather, a clean dry stables / living area, fresh bedding, and freedom of movement within their enclosure.
This "criteria" of the European Association of Cirque, address's only "beast wagons" the only mode of housing for felines in all of Europe and Great Britain. I am not understanding what the ECA code of conduct is addressing with the statement "provided with protection from the weather?" As Europe works 100% in tents, with the exception of an occasional building designed expressly for a circus, the beast wagon has become the accepted mode of housing. The self serving illusion being they offer the animal more space and freedom then 8 X 8 shifting cages set end to end with the doors removed which we have addressed in the past. The only difference being the "beast wagons" have a chassis and are 4 foot off the ground, and rolling cages have wheels and are 2ft. off the ground. Caging which is legal USDA approved in the United States would be illegal in Europe, and inadequate for the ECA. Which is good, because the animals in Europe with all the accepted space requirements, spend a goodly portion of there lives outside in the wintertime given the size/chassis of the "beast wagon" and the environment of the tent performance. Somebody has decided that a goodly amount of straw on the floor, with the sides closed on the "beast wagons" is proper housing for protection from the elements for lions and tigers. If water pans are left in the "beast wagons" guaranteed the water will freeze, and as often as not the sides/doors are frozen shut in the morning from the condensation/body heat(unlike elephants, felines do pant) from the animals inside. With our shifting cages, and given the environment of heated buildings in the winter months, our animals are transported in something similar to a "beast wagon" for a short period of time, provided with loads of straw as accepted world wide, and then moved into a heated building, the rare exception being a tent stable with space heaters provided for warmth. I have been called out in many an emergency situation where the heaters has failed, and the temperature has dropped to 30- 40 degrees and the discomfort of the animals is very obvious.
Unless an act can provide both rolling cages for use in the United States, and a "beast wagon" for use in Europe/Monte Carlo forget being part of the "Worlds Best". Ringling Bros. has the resources to provide both a "beast wagon" and rolling cages for animal acts coming from Europe. Their "beast wagons" are kept in a heated building or tent. We can only assume it gets colder in the United States then it does in Europe, or their felines are hardier then ours.
Important Announcement
I would like to award this Bronze Star to USDA/APHIS on the occasion of their 2oth visit to CircusNOspin. Your comments/insight are welcome, but remember no anonymous. A Silver Star will be awarded for 50 visits, and for 100 I'll see if I can get Princess Steffie to spring for one of those cherished gold clown deals which they tell me are real coveted and prized.
Full page ad in the program from the first horse show ever held at the Forum in Los Angeles
Albert Ostermaier and Dianne Olds Rossi. Wouldn't you love to see this kind of thing today?
Posts
