Thanks to animal rights groups, the use of animals in circuses in the UK is now considered so controversial that most troupes won't risk including them in their shows.
But unfortunately the same can't be said for circuses in Russia who use animals frequently in their shows and force them to learn skills and perform for viewers' entertainment.
These shocking new photographs taken in Jihlava, Czech Republic, show brown bears being trained to figure skate and play ice hockey as part of the Russian Ice Circus' touring show.
It is terrible for animals to be abused in any way, whether through malnutrition, beatings, or something else.
However, I do not know to what extent these bears are being abused.
These photos are very disturbing. I bet the skates really hurt their paws. They aren't made to take the weight in such a way. You gotta wonder about people sometimes.
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