1
SEA LIONS AT CIRCUSES
ETHICAL AND WELFARE ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE KEEPING OF SEA
LIONS IN CIRCUSES
WILDE DIEREN DE TENT UIT, JANUARI 2014
TRANSLATION BY G. ENS
Wilde Dieren de Tent Uit, januari 2014
2
Sea lion at the circus (Apeldoorn, 2013)
SEA LIONS AT CIRCUSES
ETHICAL AND WELFARE ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE KEEPING OF SEA LIONS IN CIRCUSES
WILDE DIEREN DE TENT UIT, JANUARI 2014
On October 29, 2012 Diederik Samsom and Mark Rutte announced to ban the use of wild animals in
circuses. Meanwhile the draft of the ban is at an advanced stage. However, at the beginning of
November 2013 the State Secretary for Economic Affairs announced additional research in sea lions.
When wild animals are banned from circuses,
for various reasons it is important to make no
exception for sea lions. First of all sea lions in
circuses experience structural welfare
problems, particularly severe curtailment of
their natural behaviour. Also from an ethical
perspective exploitation of these animals for
entertainment reasons is unacceptable. Sea
lions are wild animals and should be
respected as such: confining them, dragging
them around doing tricks is totally the
opposite of recognising their intrinsic value.
Sea lion in the ring (Rotterdam, 2013)
INTRINSIC VALUE
*19
In Dutch law the intrinsic value of animals is accepted . Sea lions too have a value independent from
the value of use for man. Degradations of welfare are not permitted unless they serve a reasonable
purpose. In the case of circuses there is no reasonable purpose: circuses can provide great
performances without wild animals. Other forms of entertainment are also available to man.
Reasonably this means that for this purpose degradations of welfare of wild animals are not justified.
Wilde Dieren de Tent Uit, januari 2014
3
Following the discussion in the Lower House, there is a plea in an adopted motion (Waalken/Cramer,
*12
parliamentary paper 28 286, nr. 117) to include further development of an evaluation framework for
the ethical aspects of the use of wild animals in circuses. At request of the House a report on the
intrinsic value of wild animals practising performances is prepared by the State University of
*26
Groningen . Considering the intrinsic value, the researchers conclude that wild animals prefer a life
under natural conditions. If not possible, the surroundings should be as natural as possible. On a scale
of ‘naturalness’ circuses score very poor.
These findings correspond to a study commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs by the Free
*3
University ‘Thinking about animals in trends related to human-animal relationships. In this study
circus animals appear to be a category in which animal welfare should prevail over the interests of
man.
DEGRADATION OF WELFARE
It is not possible to keep sea lions in circuses in such a way it suits the needs of these animals
because of their biological characteristics, their highly developed social behaviour, number of
*7
transportations, highly specialized needs of certain nutrition and space .
*15
Sea lions are highly intelligent and social animals with an exceptionally good long-term memory . A
circus act generally consists of two to four animals, while sea lions in the wild usually live in large,
*14
*2, 17
complex communities , in which males sometimes have up to twenty females
. Mutually fights
*7
occur, for example to obtain the best spots on the shore, close to the water . Individual, subdominant
*14
sea lions in the wild can escape or hide from dominant species . A circus can not provide in this
natural need.
In circuses these naturally active swimmers are kept
in very small basins, sometimes with an area of only
fifty square meters and a depth of 1,2 m such a pool
offers insufficient space for the lifestyle of sea lions.
The transportation basin for two animals contains
*16
less than nine cubic meters (4X2, 2X1) . While in
the wild they make trips from up to one hundred
miles a day. During these trips for ninety percent of
the time the animals remain submerged in depths of
*1
fifty to one hundred meters . A sea lion can dive
down up to 247 meters, while staying under water
*5
for almost ten minutes . The circus can not meet
Sea lion housing (Rotterdam, 2013)
these natural needs of sea lions to dive, to hunt or
to swim freely.
In the circus these animals lack natural stimuli. Besides
the lack of a complex social structure, housing also
provides little challenge. A small, smooth water basin
does not match the rocky, sandy, icy or vegetated
underwater world where they hunt for their food. The
lack of natural stimuli for wild animals in captivity can
*14
even lead to disturbed (stereotypical) behaviour .
Stereotypical behaviour with sea lions on circus grounds
and in shows can be noticed by the repeatedly cradling
of the neck and the head – from left to right or from front
*20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
to back
. Often these movements are
Wilde Dieren de Tent Uit, januari 2014
Sea lion in the wild. (Photo: Dos Winkel)
4
considered funny, because it looks like the sea lions dance along with the music. In reality this is a
manifestation of stress, frustration and boredom. When they swim stereotypical behaviour was
*23
observed as well .
*14
Besides stress, frustration and boredom these saltwater animals in the circus also are vulnerable to
other health risks. By inadequate nutrition, poor water quality, an abundance of light or a combination
of these factors many sea lions in captivity suffer from various eye disorders such as corneal lesions,
*6
cataracts and lens luxations .
In captivity sea lions usually are fed from above, so, more often than their wild conspecifics, they are
forced to look towards the light. Thereby the smooth surface and often bright colours of the basin
reflects more light in their eyes. These conditions, in which these animals are exposed to a much
larger amount of UV light than in the wild, can cause eye problems. Because of the sandy bottom of
the ocean, the depths where they swim and the fact sea lions ashore most of the time keep their eyes
*6
shut, the animals in the wild have to endure a much smaller amount of light .
Also, in a circus it is not easy to ensure sea
lions can live in sufficient and clean
saltwater. The cleansing of the water may
cause damage to the eyes or contribute to
*6
this by using chemicals . Harmful byproducts are formed when these chemicals
*6
mix with organic material from the water .
Lots of traveling forms a greater risk in
getting problems with the quality of the
water. Once it happened sea lions were
locked up in a transportation basin for two
weeks. Two of the four animals only came
out to perform and the other two
*4
permanently stayed in the truck .
Transportation basin (Amsterdam, 2007)
Sea lions in the wild have a varied diet of more than forty different prey consisting of fish, squid,
*10
crustaceans, snails, polychaetes, sponges and tunicates , but also for example whiting, squid, red
*11, 12
octopus, mackerel, blacksmith, young red bass, herring, anchovies and salmon
. They also hunt
*8
*1
sea bears and their young and several species of penguins . In a circus hunting is impossible.
RISKS TO HUMANS
In addition to health hazards for sea lions, keeping sea lions in captivity can be dangerous to human
*9
beings and public health. Sea lions are capable of mutilating or injuring human beings . The public
*20
can freely access the circus grounds and thus get in touch with sea lions in their water basins . This
might cause an undesirable risk of getting injured.
The interaction between man and sea lions can also cause disease to man. Diseases as Weil’s
*9
disease and the infection ‘seal finger’, but also zoo noses as tuberculosis and brucellosis may occur .
The last two mentioned diseases may pose a threat to public health. Also people are at risk of
*9, 18
conjunctivitis and viral or bacterial skin infections
.
Wilde Dieren de Tent Uit, januari 2014
5
SOURCES
1. Campagna, C. (IUCN SSC Pinniped Specialist Group). 2008. Otaria flavescens. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 January 2014.
2. Campagna, C. and Le Boeuf, B. 1988. "Reproductive behavior of southern sea lions". Behaviour, 104(3-4): 233-261.
3. Cock Buning, T. de, Pompe, V., Hopster and H., Brauw, C. de. 2012. Denken over Dieren, dier en ding, zegen en
zorg. Rapport Denken over Dieren, inventarisatie van publiekswaarden en verwachtingen van praktijken in 2011.
Athena Instituut, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Faculteit der Aard- en levenswetenschappen.
4. Creamer, J. and Phillips, T. 1998. The Ugliest Show on Earth. A report on the use of animals in circuses. Animal
Defenders (ADI)
5. Feldkamp, S. D., Delong, R. L. and Antonelis, G. A. 1989. Diving patterns of California sea lions, Zalophus
californianus. Canadian Journal of Zoology 67: 872-883.
6. Gage, L. J. 2011. Captive Pinniped Eye Problems, We Can Do Better! Journal of Marine Animals and Their Ecology,
Vol. 4, No. 2
7. Gsandtner, H., Pechlaner, H. and Schwammer, H. M. 1997. Guidelines for the keeping of wild animals in circuses.
Office of the Environmental Commissioner of the City of Vienna: Vienna
8. Harcourt, R. 1993. Individual variation in predation on fur seals by southern sea lions (Otaria byronia) in Peru.
Canadian Journal of Zoology, 71(9): 1908-1911.
9. Hunt, T. D., Ziccardi, M. H., Gulland, F. M. D., Yochem, P. K., Hird, D. W., Rowles, T. and Mazet, J. A. K. 2008.
Health risks for marine mammal workers. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, Vol. 81: 81-92
10. Koen Alonso, M., Crespo, E. A., Pedraza, S. N., Garcia, N. A. and Coscarella, M. A. 2000. Food habits of the South
American sea lion, Otaria flavescens, off Patagonia, Argentina. Fishery Bulletin 98(2): 250-263.
11. Lowry, M. S., Oliver, C. W., Macky, C. and Wexler, J. B. 1990. Food habits of Californian sea lions, Zalophus
californianus, at San Clemente Island, California, 1981- 1986. Fishery Bulletin 88: 509-521.
12. Lowry, M. S., Stewart, B. S., Heath, C. B., Yochem, P. K. and Francis, J. M. 1991. Seasonal and annual variability in
the diet of California sea lions Zalophus californianus at San Nicholas Island, California, 1981-86. Fishery Bulletin 89:
331-336.
13. Motie Waalkens/Cramer, Kamerstuk 28 286, nr. 117
14. Rose, N. A. & Firmani, D. (Eds), Parsons and E. C. M., Farinato, R. 2009. The Case Against Marine Mammals in
Captivity (4th edition). The Humane Society of the United States (HSI) and the World Society for the Protection of
Animals (WSPA). 4th edition.
15. Uhlenbroek, C. 2008. Animal Life, Dorling Kindersley Limited, UK (P. 485)
16. Vereniging Nederlandse Circus Ondernemingen (VNCO) / Breed Overleg Circusdieren. 2007. Welzijn Circusdieren.
Richtlijnen voor het houden en laten optreden van dieren in circussen. VNCO, Breed Overleg Circusdieren
17. Walker, E.P., Warnick, F., Hamlet, S.E., Lange, K.I., David, M.A., Uible, H.E., Wright, P.F. and Paradiso, J.L. 1975.
Mammals of the World, 3rd Ed. Vol. II. The John Hopkins University Press, London, England.
18. Waltzek, T.B., Cortés-Hinojosa, G., Wellehan Jr. J.F. X. and Gray, G. C. 2012. Marine Mammal Zoonoses: A Review
of Disease Manifestations. Zoonoses and Public Health.
19. Wet Dieren, geldend op 31 januari 2014, aanhef
20. YouTube ‘Zeeleeuw in transportwagen in het circus’. 2013. Channel Wildedierententuit of Vereniging Wilde Dieren de
Tent Uit
21. YouTube ‘Stereotiep gedrag bij een zeeleeuw in het circus (1)’. Channel Wildedierententuit of Vereniging Wilde
Dieren de Tent Uit
22. YouTube ‘Stereotiep gedrag bij een zeeleeuw in het circus (2)’. Channel Wildedierententuit of Vereniging Wilde
Dieren de Tent Uit
23. YouTube ‘Stereotiep gedrag bij een zeeleeuw in het circus (3)’. Channel Wildedierententuit of Vereniging Wilde
Dieren de Tent Uit
24. YouTube ‘Stereotiep gedrag bij zeeleeuwen in het circus (1)’. Channel Wildedierententuit of Vereniging Wilde Dieren
de Tent Uit
25. YouTube ‘Stereotiep gedrag bij zeeleeuwen in het circus (2)’. Channel Wildedierententuit of Vereniging Wilde Dieren
de Tent Uit
26. Keulartz, F.W.J. and Swart, Jac.A.A. 2009. De intrinsieke waarden van dieren in performance-praktijken.
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen and the Animal Science Group, Wageningen UR.
Wilde Dieren de Tent Uit, januari 2014