Animals fascinate everyone. While some watch discovery channel, others enter forest reserves to peek into the surroundings of exotic mammals and observe them. Similarly animals for generations have attracted the public to circuses around the world. A show at any circus always promised tricks using lions, tigers, dogs etc. It may seem entertaining to the crowd to watch these ‘trained’ animals displaying their talents but many would not acknowledge the pitiful conditions they are kept in and the abuse they endure at the hand of circus trainers. I belong to the small percentage of people who have never entered a circus for this very reason. Indian circuses were the rage once upon a time and are still held in many cities across the country. The decline in their popularity may be blamed on the ban the Indian government has placed on these entertainers. Exotic animals such as tigers, lions and elephants are strictly banned from being used in circus and now animal activists have been petitioning to ban the use of dogs, horses and hippos too. It is a complicated situation but the welfare of these defenceless beings is important.