Circuses have long used animals in their shows to entertain and dazzle audiences with their awe-inspiring tricks. But these animals who are forced to perform are often severely brutalized and abused at the hands of their trainers and captors.
In order to force these animals to act in ways which they normally wouldn't (e.g. jumping through hoops, balancing on pedestals, etc.), trainers use extreme means of force, such as electric prods, whips, and bull hooks.