Thankfully PG will be helping to decrease the abuse of exotic animals. Even if they are treated nicely, it is abuse to have wild big cats, elephants, bears performing in circuses. I don't care if Indonesia and East India use elephants for work, that is their native homes and it is not comparable to "performing" in a circus. That is just so disgusting.

yes , well think of that next time you ride your horse or make your dog do stupid tricks. Since when do 'exotic' animals have more dignity than 'domestic'ones? Thats like saying its ok for city folk to do demeaning things but not country folk.

Lions tigers and bears Oh My!!! Isnt there bigger fish to fry at the moment like filling in pot holes,adressing the river road clusterf%@k, cleaning crack heads off the streets?

northman, they gotta stick to the feel good agendas don't you know. Animal rights activists and environmentalists are slowly but surely making inroads. I won't be too surprised when they successfully convince governments to ban hunting, strictly on emotional grounds of course. That topic was well debated here last week. While the exotic animals may not have their freedom, they are almost certainly safer and will live longer in captivity, what's wrong with that? Many of them will have been born in captivity anyway, so would not survive if the do-gooders succeeded in securing their 'freedom' In captivity, they are not subject to drought, famine, illegal hunting for body parts/trophies, or predation. These days, the spot light is on the circuses etc. to ensure that the animals are properly treated, and it owuld be foolish not to protect and nurture an animal that is part of the show, in part responsible for the show's income. It is my humble opinion that these laws banning exotic animals are kneejerk reactions to pressure from special interest groups. Maybe the special interest groups should spend their time and energy on improving the planet for man.
metalman.

Circuses are an easy target as there are not many people who will speak out. For myself, i can honestly say that my appreciation for animals was very much affected by actually seeing and touching them. THese days animal rights people are saying that if you want to see animals you should A: be rich and travel to where they live, or B: rent a video. How sad. I got this advice , by the way from the head guy at Zoocheck a few years back. DOes that tell you anything? if not , let me be more plain: The next target, after circuses will be rodeos, then zoos. So if some of you are feeling good about the circus animal ban maybe something you DO like is next in line. Of course since the majority of people dont attend these events, there will likely be little opposition to their elimination (or castration at least).
It is bad enough that so many kids these days have never even seen a live chicken. Now it seems that the experience of actually petting an elephant is something our children will be denied. Too bad we dont try harder to ensure our kids can enjoy some of the truly magical experiences we took for granted. Oh well, they can always play educational wildlife adventure games on the computer. Or maybe they can learn all about animals from Go Diego Go.

You said it, caramancil. These misguided people who would ban all fun are not doing the kids any favours by taking away the joy and wonder of discovery. I have raised kids, and put in my fair share of time as a coach and leader, and know first hand that the video, game or picture book is a poor substitute for the real thing. Kids learn by doing, seeing, touching, smelling. A good instructional experience with animals, also allows the child to develop a sense of respect for nature. Up close and personal with an elephant gives one a sense of the power and majesty of nature, you simply will not pick that up watching t.v.
metalman.

More new laws. More rules. Keep them coming. Common sense just doesn't do it anymore. I guess when they run out of paper they can still make new laws and new rules in cyber space. How about some fines for misbehaving with animals? To go along with our "tax reductions?".

What is wrong w/ you people??? How can you compare a dog - domestic NOT wild - horses, also domestic not wild! That is like comparing apples and oranges. And comparing hunting to exotic animals in circuses is just as ridiculous! These exotic animals are endangered and it is illegal to hunt them and if you do you are a scum bag poacher!!! Geez, I suppose you all would go shoot an elephant, tiger, lion...what the f*&^% ever. This truly is rednec town if this is the mantality!!! I'm embarrassed for you all!

To quote caranmacil
"The next target, after circuses will be rodeos, then zoos. So if some of you are feeling good about the circus animal ban maybe something you DO like is next in line.
Now it seems that the experience of actually petting an elephant is something our children will be denied. Too bad we dont try harder to ensure our kids can enjoy some of the truly magical experiences we took for granted. Oh well, they can always play educational wildlife adventure games on the computer."

OK, this is NOT about our children petting elephants!!! That is not what an elephant is for...dancing in a cirus!!! Give me a break, how selfish and narrow minded are you? Elephants need to live in herds, they call families. They mourn like humans when they lose a loved one - yes they are capable of emotion. I will NEVER take my child to a zoo where the animals are locked in small enclosures or an aquarium. They are for our pleasure and someones profit only. Wild animals do NOT act normal in capativity so really you are teaching your child NOTHING!!! Yah, books are great, so are dvd's!!!! How 'bout buy the "Planet Earth", you won't get a better education about wildlife or the earth from a circus or a zoo. That kind of thinking is so ancient and old school, it makes me sick!

Wow, tender subject robichal. Why are you so angry because someone has an opinion different than yours? Chester

I'm angry because it is this kind of attitude that has contributed to animal abuse, and circuses are a form of animal abuse. It is a tender subject for me as it should be for all. There is a place for Zoos, for rehabilitation purposes or when an animal cannot be set free, however, they need large, natural enclosures. I know this would be great in an "ideal" world, which we definitely don't live in, but supporting circuses is not the right direction to take. Exotice and wild animals i.e. tigers, lions, elephants, bears etc should not be on the "road" like a rock group. They should be in the wild, living the life they were meant to live.

Robichal writes...."I know this would be great in an "ideal" world, which we definitely don't live in,"

Your ideal world there Rob or who's?
What is an ideal world and who says what an ideal world is or should be.

I think a truly ideal world is one where a person is totally satisfied with the way things are or should be according to their own personal beliefs. Therefore there can be no such a place in reality.

OMG will I have to turn my canaries loose??? How about my goats????? I think laws that protect all these animals from abuse etc. are a good thing, but to ban them from the public, ???? I have fond memories from my childhood of the big top circuses and now children will never be able to see this. Large towns, they can go to Zoos, but in small towns, the only way to view these animals was the circus.
Thank God some of these animals are in captivity as in the wild so many are close to being extinct.