VIDEO: Camel Forced to Give Rides During Shrine Circus Panics—at Least Six Children Injured
A camel tried to flee while people were riding on the animal’s back during a Pittsburgh Shrine Circus performance at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday. At least six children were reportedly injured.
The incident occurred during intermission when Shrine circus staff allowed children and an adult to ride atop a tethered camel’s back. A child purportedly threw a shovel at the camel, causing the animal to panic.
The dangerous incident is exactly what Pittsburgh’s ban on using weapons to threaten wild and exotic animals should be preventing. Had the Shriners abided by the law and left animals out of their show instead of taking the city to court, this camel would have been spared this terror and these children wouldn’t have sustained these injuries.
These Animals Need Our Help
Many well-intentioned people may not know that the animal exhibitors who local Shriners chapters work with to put on circuses are anything but compassionate. In the following video clips from Shrine circuses, an elephant is jabbed with a bullhook, a tiger is whipped in the face, a bear urinates on herself while being forced to do a handstand, and other animals suffer in despair:
But you can help to end this violence. We’re calling on the Syria Shriners to let this be the straw that ends the camel acts and urging the public never to buy a ticket to any circus that uses animals. Click the button below to tell Shriners International that you won’t support it until it drops the cruelty:
