Wild Animals in Entertainment

Abstract

Wild animals in entertainment have long been popular. A wide variety of wild animals are held in captivity worldwide. Some are housed in modern zoos, sanctuaries, research facilities and wildlife centers, while others live their lives as actors in (traveling) circuses, in entertainment parks or on movie sets. Good animal welfare and quality of life matters first and foremost to the individual animal, but is also fundamental to meaningful and successful conservation, research and education programs. It is important to consider the animal’s perspective and the species-specific requirements that are not always compatible with our entertainment goals. This chapter will focus specifically on the topic of entertainment and performing captive wild animals in zoos, marine parks and circuses worldwide and which conditions need to be fulfilled to warrant good animal welfare, i.e. thriving captive wild animals.