Bolivian Circus Animals Seek New Homes

Wanted: Safe haven for 22 lions and "a few primates."

Time magazine reports there's been something of an exodus of circus performers and animals from Bolivia recently. The country has initiated the world's first ban on the use of animals in circuses. Many performers, who can afford it, have taken their act and hoofed it to a country more tolerant of the practice.

There are however several smaller, family-owned operations being left with the difficult decision of whether or not to euthanize their animals if good homes can't be found.

Unfortunately, for supporters of the ban, euthanizing the animals is considered a better option than being placed in a zoo.

"After spending a lifetime in small boxes, constantly moving from hot to frigid climates and living at the whim of humans, these animals shouldn't have to be entertainment for anyone," Animal Defence International (ADI) CEO Jan Creamer told Time.

Bolivian circuses now have until 2010 to hand over their animals. Fortunately, five lions have already been "freed" from a cooperative circus and have been found a home in California at the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). It's a 2,000-acre sanctuary to dozens of former performing bears, tigers, elephants and lions and they've offered to cover the cost of relocation, something the Bolivian government says they don't have the resources to cover.

There are other places available in Bolivia itself such as two sanctuaries operated by the nonprofit Inti Wara Yassi, where hundreds of monkeys and birds and more than two dozen pumas, jaguars and ocelots live in large cages in a lush jungle setting. However there are concerns over the safety and abilities of the caregivers who are young and undertrained.

The decision on the ban by Bolivian President Morales follows on the heals of undercover work by the London-based animal rights organization that spent two years working undercover inside Bolivia's circuses, documenting animal abuse. What they found were caretakers often punching and kicking disobedient animals and bears being housed in 6-by-9 foot cages. 

Creamer weighs in the importance of what they uncovered saying the conditions were "horrific," but the problem isn't one found only in Bolivia. She believes "even the best circuses in the world can't provide the conditions necessary for an animal's happiness. 

"It's like if I asked you to live in your bathroom for the rest of your life."

At least he would have been asking. The animals have no choice in the matter.

Photo courtesy blucatproject via Flickr.