Entertainment Animals

This portion of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Library is dedicated to zoos, circuses, and marine mammal parks and animals, which are regulated under the Animal Welfare Act. Resources listed here pertain to the Animal Welfare Act and other various guidelines relating to these venues.

Farm-based recreation provides an important niche market for farmers, but limited empirical information is available on the topic. Access to two USDA databases, the 2004 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) and the 2000 National Survey on Recreation and the Environment, provided researchers with a deeper understanding of who operates farm-based recreation enterprises, such as hunting and fishing operations, horseback riding businesses, on-farm rodeos, and petting zoos. Regression analysis identified the importance of various farmer and farm characteristics, as well as local and regional factors. [Excerpted from report]

A 2001 survey of 412 New Mexican voters revealed that four out of five (81%) oppose cockfighting and would support a state law banning it.

This study examined the use and perception of program activities within European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) zoos, to understand the opinions and perceptions of related authorities, including legislators and zoo-related associations, in order to reach a long term goal of defining the limits and ethics of using animals in demonstrations and commercial activities.

Poll results released by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) indicate that 95% of U.S. adults agree that visiting accredited zoos and aquariums and seeing animals helps people appreciate animals more and encourages people to learn about them. The AZA also found that visiting zoos and aquariums encourages donations to conservation issues.

Since 1992, the Public Opinion Foundation has conducted weekly nationwide representative polls of Russia's urban and rural populations, through the extensive network of its regional branches and partner organizations situated in almost all areas of the country. This organization provides an English database version of poll results, searchable by topic.

This survey was commissioned by the Washington State Gambling Commission to explore the gambling practices of Washington State residents, their knowledge of gambling regulations, and their opinions on current policy issues. Though the majority of the study addresses non-animal issues, this survey does touch on animal racing, with 5% or less of the population betting on animal races.

Conducted in Great Britain in October 2005, this Animal Defenders International (ADI) survey on circus animals found that only 6% of respondents believe that it is necessary to whip or beat circus animals to train them effectively. In addition, 65% agreed that the use of performing animals in circuses should be banned, while 80% agreed that the use of wild animals in circuses should be banned.