DEMAND RELEASE OF POLAR BEARS FORCED TO PERFORM IN U.S. & RUSSIAN CIRCUSES

Beautiful and majestic polar bears are forced to perform outrageous, unnatural acts for the entertainment of the masses!

“A brief history. Philip Astley with his performing horses created the first commercial enterprise involving an animal act in England in 1768. Cattle dealer Hachaliah Bailey acquired and exhibited an African elephant calf, called 'Little Bet' which he toured with around the USA in 1796 and was the first touring menagerie. In 1812 at Paris's Cirque Olympique, the Franconis circus presented Kioumi, the first trained performing elephant. The Hagenbecks, the world’s foremost importers and dealers of exotic animals also developed wild animal acts at this time in Germany. Since those times thousands of wild animals have been used in circuses around the world, and now also in media, advertising, TV and film.”

http://www.freecagedbears.com/circus

These magnificent creatures have been doomed to spend their lives in misery and humiliation instead of roaming the Arctic, free and wild as nature intended. Polar bears are ferocious hunters and like to spend long days hunting. They are the biggest carnivores among land animals.

Instead, their life is within the confines of circuses where they are forced to wear wire muzzles and stand on their hind legs while they sing, ice skate, dance, play football and perform degrading tricks and stunts.
“Trainer Yulia Denisenko makes her bears 'sing' – roaring into a microphone as part of her act at the Ivanovo circus in Russia.
In another 'trick', Mrs Denisenko kneels on the floor with the bear lying submissively by her side. She later holds her hand up to the animal's mouth, which has been wired shut, proving her dominance.

Mrs Denisenko, who has performed at the famed Bolshoi circus, has spoken of the 'necessity' of striking her charges when young so that they give up their 'instinctive activity' as they grow.
She also said: “In nature these animals can easily kill a seal with one blow of their forepaws. Therefore, it is necessary to give back blow for blow immediately while they are young. Then, when they are older, they will give up this instinctive activity.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3459519/Muzzled-forced-carry-humiliating-acts-disturbing-photos-polar-bears-sing-ice-skate-play-football-act-Russian-circus.html

Reports from trainers for Russian circuses tell of bears being burnt with cigarettes, striking them with metal bars and other torture methods. Cubs are forced to stand on their hind legs by chaining them to a wall which if they attempt to return to a natural all four-paw stance they will be strangled.

Many cubs will die before the torturous training begins because of stress of capture, rough handling, food deprivation, dehydration and confinement.

Survivors often have the tops of their muzzles pierced with hot pokers so a rope can be threaded through the holes in their septum. A form of control for the trainers, giving them dominance as the bears are forced to cower and perform to avoid pain and punishment.

We urge the United States and Russia to join the 31 countries that have already implemented restrictions on wild animal circuses.

Polar Bear Rescued From Mexican Circus Dies

http://www.peta.org/blog/polar-bear-rescued-mexican-circus-dies/

The Dramatic Rescue of Bärle, the Circus Polar Bear

http://www.rd.com/true-stories/inspiring/barle-circus-polar-bear/

Wilhelm, a Very Special Polar Bear

http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/news-room/pbi-blog/wilhelm-very-special-polar-bear

Abused Animals Rescued From Circus - Life in the tropics is finally over for six polar bears 

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=129983

These truly majestic polar bears need to be released from their miserable lives of torture. They should not be in captivity, confined and deprived of natural movement and interaction with their own species.

Please release these bears to an appropriate sanctuary that is suited to their unique needs now.

It is possible for you to help by refusing to attend ALL circuses etc. that feature live animal acts.

Please sign and share this petition.
The Polar bears need you now!

** Photo credit PIXABAY 

Please read the petition letter.

September 5th, 2016

HEIGHT & WEIGHT STATISTICS FOR POLAR BEARS:
“Polar bears are the largest species of bear. On average, polar bears on all fours are 3.5 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 meters) tall, but when standing on its hind legs, an adult male polar bear may reach more than 10 feet (3 m). Lengthwise, they are 7.25 to 8 feet (2.2 to 2.5 m) from head to rump.
An adult male polar bear weighs around 775 to 1,200 lbs. (351 to 544 kilograms). The largest polar bear recorded weighed 2,209 pounds (1,000 kg), according to Polar Bear International. Females weigh half as much as their male counterparts, at only or 330 to 650 lbs. (50 to 295 kg).”
http://www.livescience.com/27436-polar-bear-facts.html