Humans have always been in love with the beauty and majesty of Earth's wild creatures; The Asian elephants, the big cats of Africa and of course the adorable monkeys, monkeys and chimpanzees. Capitalizing on the public's love for these animals, entrepreneurs and business tycoons have captured some of these creatures and allowed people to purchase a close encounter with the world's wild beasts. Some have even trained these beasts to perform stunts for the pleasure of the audience. It is a common sight around the world today for families to spend the weekend at the circus or zoo, peering into the lives of the wild animals that people are so fascinated by. However, when adults plan a fun family outing to these entertainment venues, they may not realize the abuse and neglect they are supporting by doing so. The vast majority are naive to the horrors that lurk under the big top once the crowd has dispersed. The hidden truth is that wild animals are torn from their families, abused and neglected, and live lives far from what was naturally expected; all this for the love of money and, due to corruption and secrets, most of the time they get away with it. Circuses spend an average of 48 weeks a year traveling and performing for audiences. Circus animals spend about 95% of their lives caged or chained. Elephants at the Ringling Bros. circus, a division of Feld Entertainment, for example, often spend up to 100 hours at a time in chains, as revealed by Ringling's own documents (Circuses). Their big cats are crammed into cages, hardly able to move, for long periods of time. Although Ringling boasts that its rail cars are designed specifically for the needs of its animals, records show otherwise. In 2004, you... a paper medium... will have to settle for a circus without spectators. There are two types of evil in the world, those who cause harm and those who see it but do nothing. We can no longer look away from the abuses that take place in the circus, the animals belong in the wild, not under the big top, and one day that is where they will live again. Works Cited"Benjamin Zephaniah Opens Exhibition Comparing Slaves to Factory-Farmed Animals; Social Justice Leader Reveals PETA's Provocative Message: "200 Years After Parliament Banned the Slave Trade, It Continues for Slaves animals." , n.d. Web. 01 Apr 2014. "Meet the Elephants." Ringling Brothers Cruelty Over the Top, Np, 1 Apr 2014. Nelson, Deborah "The Cruelest Show on Earth." 36.6 (2011): 48. MasterFILE Premier , April 8. 2014.