Circus animals, treated well or not?

For a very long time now I have wondered how circus animals are treated. Are they taken care of and given the space, love, care and attention they deserve?

I think space is out of the question. I believe that in most cases the animals have very little space in which to live. Even with some zoos I have personally visited over the years, I have seen animals pacing back and forth glassy-eyed staring blankly into space.

As for love, I would assume that this would depend on who actually has the animal as well as their personal feelings toward it. I'm sure that not every keeper is cold-hearted and cruel but I'm sure there are some who's primary concern is making money with the animals in their care for as long as they can.

Care and attention is dodgy in some instances as well. It seems very cruel to put an animal in a small cage and expect it to flourish as if still in it's natural habitat.

It's nice to think and hope that all circus animals have it made and are taken very good care of but I personally have my doubts.

Some years ago, I recall seeing some zoo animals in small cages standing in dirty straw that obviously needed to be changed. The animals looked so sad and miserable, I cried.

One of the keepers asked in an annoyed voice what was wrong with me. I explained. He told me again in a rather annoyed voice, that these animals were taken better care of there with the circus than they would have been had they been left on their own in their native lands.

Somehow, his explanation just didn't wash with me. I knew better. I stood staring at him and with a wave of his hand, he dismissed me and walked away without another word. I felt empty somehow and very sorry for the animals.

It's a shame that animals are still often thought of as commodities rather than gifts of nature that we can learn from. But we must take care of them and see then as they are.

There is an interesting article in the Telegraph on circus animal welfare that begins, "A ban on using wild animals in travelling circuses because of welfare concerns is not supported by the scientific evidence, a report for the Government has found."

Read the entire story here.

Stem cells extracted from cloned primate embryos.

In the news, Nature News has an incredible story about cloning monkeys.

Embryonic stem cell research has been going on for about 25 years or longer. Stem cell research itself has been going on for over 40 years.

Actually, it would be nice to see some of the endangered species show nicely renewing populations because of cloning. If anyone ever gets round to it. Let's keep out fingers crossed.

I know how some religious people feel about this type of science but I feel strongly that we were all given the ability to learn and absolutely magnificent technology therefore we should use both to the best of our abilities.

I also truly believe that when talking about sin it is a sin to waste knowledge and ability sitting around saying things like, We can't do this, God wouldn't like it.

I like to think that God wants us all to use what gifts we were each given including and even especially scientists because what most of them do is of such tremendous value to all of us as well as future generations.

So please, before you write me nasty emails or leave me rude comments about how I am going to hell for even suggesting that embryonic stem cell research might help save soon to be extinct species, do me as well as yourself a favor and do the following:

Read, think, learn. Read, think, learn. Read, think, learn. Read, think, learn.

If this fails to enlighten, then please by all means start again.

Concern grows for smallest bear.

Check out this story about Sun bears on BBC News.

Habitat loss and commercial hunting have been blamed for a decline in the number of sun bears - the world's smallest species of bear.

That is the statement at the top of the story. It's a very sad one.

As for habitat loss, personally I don't see any way to stop it because of human encroachment into their territory due to the ever-expanding population of homo sapiens.

As long as the world keeps on breeding at the rate it is now, there won't be any territory left for anything other than human beings.

Habitat loss and commercial hunting aren't the only things sun bears have to worry about. We also have poaching to add to the list.

Poaching should carry far stiffer penalties. Maybe that would help to discourage some of it since not only sun bears suffer because of poachers.

Information on Sun bears on:

Wikipedia

Bears.org