I find the deep emotions for animals rather interesting.
On the one hand we have allegations of criminal behavior that must, MUST result in a circus being eliminated. I neither see nor hear anything regarding making it, the circus, acceptable and a responsible follower of sound rules. Certainly that is because one side sees animal captivity, in any form, as anathema, yes?
Put simply, is it unacceptable to the anti circus folks to have a circus, with animals doing tricks, in any form, including stringent rules for animal treatment?
On the other hand, the romanticism of wild life is interesting to. I would guess that it's great being the king of the jungle or an elephant, IE, one of the larger creatures. Being a smaller critter is probably tougher.
Some of the most heartbreaking footage I have ever seen, after human suffering of course, was of a pack of hyenas systematically distracting a wild boar as she tried to ferry her young from one hiding place to another. They got all but one. Ah, nature.
Another one was the obvious longing a herd of elephants did when they lost a member to disease. They constantly looked for her. I think the film guys said they keep this up for months and will recognize the remains forever.
Mega death due to severe drought is pretty difficult to watch to. The young always go first.
I wanted to kill those hyenas, right up until the part where, in a later segment, the same pack messed with a lion. He ran the mother down and mauled her like a rag doll. Just snapped her neck and left her to rot. Just another day in paradise.
Point being, it is not impossible to imagine an animal suffering and being conscious of it to some point. It is also very easy for me to see many animals as having it pretty good in a circus.
Rodeos are noted for taking excellent care of their animals. So again, is it simply unacceptable, no matter what, or, given good care, health, exercise feeding and all, is it OK to have animals living under mans control?
I'd hate to feel compelled to get rid of all the chew toys and tell the cats to hit the bricks. Or worse, they kick me out of their house...