Checklist for Inspecting Animals Traveling With Circuses

- Be sure to be present when the circus is unloading its animals.
- Check the vehicles for anything that could endanger the animals, such as protruding nails, rusty panels, ventilation problems, etc.
- Document inside and outside temperatures.

- All animals should have constant access to fresh water. Circuses may try to withhold water in order to avoid "untimely urination in the ring."
- Elephants should have palatable hay within reach at all times.
- No public feeding of elephants should be allowed.
- Inspect the stored animal food, checking for any contamination or mold.

- All animals should have access to shade at all times including elephants giving rides.
- Elephants should never be housed in a nonmoving vehicle for longer than 15 minutes unless the outside temperature is below 60 degrees F.

- All animals should be able to turn fully around, lie down, and stand up while in cages.
- Animals must not be forced to stand in their own excrement.
- Big cats should have a resting board.
- Primates must have environmental enrichment (this includes toys, such as balls, ropes, tires, etc.).
- If an elephant is chained, the front chain must be larger than the front ankle by 4 to 6 inches. The back chain must be covered with rubber or cloth to protect the leg.
“The chains must be of sufficient length and arrangement so as to permit each elephant to comfortably lie down, get up, self-groom, and move about within a reasonable range.” (USDA Policy #6, Space and Exercise Requirements)
- Document any stereotypic behavior such as rocking, weaving, pacing, self-mutilation, and cribbing (bar-biting).PERFORMANCE
- Observe animals for any difficulty doing specific maneuvers. This may be a sign of an injury.
- Look for hooking, whipping, or hitting the animals to make them perform. Document everything.
- There should be a safety barrier between the animals and the audience.

- If an elephant is down on his or her side and does not rise when you approach, this is a sign of a serious problem. Elephants do sleep on their side, but they do not stay down when strangers approach because this is a very vulnerable position. Since an elephant naturally sleeps only four hours each night, sleeping during the day also signals a problem.
- Observe the elephants’ feet for any cracking on their toenails.
- Observe all animals for lameness, abrasions, wounds, urine burns, saddle sores, and puncture marks.
- Look for any submissive urination. This is a sign of fear. If you observe any animals exhibiting this, document the handler’s name.
- Elephants, horses, or camels should never be forced to give rides if they are showing signs of stiffness or other physical discomfort.
- No animal should perform if any signs of illness or discomfort are present.

Use your city and state animal cruelty laws whenever applicable.
If you observe problems with any of the aforementioned, contact the USDA and PETA IMMEDIATELY. Insist that the USDA send an inspector to enforce the Animal Welfare Act. PETA can track the circus' future destinations and alert animal control officers in each city.

USDA: 301-734-4981
PETA: 757-622-7382

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