In Moscow, the Zapashny Brothers' Circus is one of the main attractions. Close to 20,000 people per week come to the circus to delight in human acrobatics, tricks, and amazing animal feats. To an outsider, it may seem like the happiest place on earth.

For the animals, however, it is not so. Animals that otherwise belong in the wild — like elephants, tigers, and lions — are captured, kept in sub-par living conditions, and then forced with whips to perform stunts every night. They are then led back to their cages where they have minimal room to stretch or move around.

Russia does not have any federal animal cruelty laws, and that's why we need to come to the rescue of these poor circus animals. Write to the Russian Ministry of Culture asking them to enact federal anti-animal cruelty regulations so performing animals don't suffer further complications due to inadequate living arrangements.