Your Fun Hurts: New Ad Campaign Shows Dark Side of Animal Circuses

Animals have long been caged, chained, and forced to perform in circuses across Asia and other parts of the world. Despite overwhelming public condemnation and calls to end their animal acts, it’s business as usual for these outfits.

To increase the pressure on them, PETA U.S. has partnered with award-winning ad agency Ogilvy’s Honduras team to launch a thought-provoking and vibrant ad campaign that contrasts the pageantry of a circus with the misery of the animals who are forced to perform in it.

Your Fun Hurts Elephants

Elephants are highly social animals who live in matriarchal herds, sharing mothering responsibilities for the herds’ babies. In nature, they spend their days socializing, browsing on trees and shrubs, playing in the mud and water, and exploring vast habitats. When they’re not being forced to perform, they spend the vast majority of their lives in chains, unable to take more than a step in any direction. Trainers use fear and pain to force them to perform, including striking elephants in the face and jaw with bullhooks.

Your Fun Hurts Tigers

In their natural habitat, tigers are apex predators who control vast territories and raise their young. In circuses, they’re locked in cages. They’re whipped to force them to perform tricks that they don’t understand. Regardless of how long they’re kept in extreme confinement, tigers never lose their genetic drives.

Your Fun Hurts Zebras

Some circuses continue to force zebras to perform even though, as a prey species, being in close contact with humans—whom they view as predators—is highly stressful. Circuses put these sensitive animals in danger: Frightened zebras who have escaped from circuses have sustained deadly injuries. The crazed look on this scary clown’s face is how zebras must feel when being forced to perform.

Don’t Let Animal Acts Go Unchallenged

Help spread the word by sharing these ads.

Want to Do More?

If you want to be an all-star for animals, there are tons of ways to get more involved. You can start by following PETA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date on our latest campaigns. Then, subscribe to PETA Asia E-News to get updates on our efforts delivered straight to your inbox.

And be sure to complete the PETA action alerts at the link below—they’ll allow you to speak up for dozens of animals.