Images from animal circuses in Italy reveal bleak reality
An undercover investigation into a circus in Italy has revealed the sad reality behind the “entertaining” visuals: animal abuse and exploitation of workers.
Eurogroup for Animals’ member, LAV, in collaboration with Franz Weber Foundation, has just launched the investigation “Il sistema circhi”, a project that highlights the same systemic issues in circuses across 19 different locations.
The two organisations received images recorded at Circo Medini in the first month of 2026, revealing poor conditions including:
Physical abuse of animals.
Violation of labour conditions: workers without appropriate contracts, with no safety standards in the workplace and subjected to verbal abuse.
Unhygienic conditions and illegal dumping of manure.
For the first time, a person has managed to infiltrate a circus in Europe. For four months, he recorded footage both during the shows and, above all, behind the scenes, bringing to light a picture of violence and humiliation. Faced with these images, no one will be able to say that the circus is a cultural spectacle
LAV
Image
LAV | Franz Weber Foundation
The two organisations wanted to highlight, however, that this is not a one-off case, but rather a systematic status quo existing in circuses making use of animals. Touring in nine regions across 19 circuses, undercover investigations revealed the horrific situations animals face in such places, including being trapped for hours or days on end, facing beatings, kicks and blows. The findings of these videos have been reported to the relevant authorities.
Twenty-three of the EU's 27 Member States have introduced restrictions on the use of animals in circuses, or have banned the use of wild animals altogether. However, animals are still permitted to perform in circuses in several large EU countries, as decisions on circus animal legislation ultimately stand at national, and not EU level.
LAV calls on the relevant authorities in Italy to finally ban the use of animals in circuses, bringing Italy into line with the growing number of European countries that have already adopted similar measures.
Concerned citizens are encouraged to join the call here.
A dolphin nicknamed Mimmo swims in the San Marco Basin in Venice, Italy Andrea Pattaro/AFP via Getty Images
“We present the case of one of the most charismatic animals in one of the most iconic cities: a solitary dolphin in Venice,” Dr. Guido Pietroluongo, a study co-author and conservation veterinary pathologist at the Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science at the University of Padova, said in a statement. “Our observations document this animal’s remarkable adaptation to an unusual context and highlight the need to manage human behavior to ensure its welfare.”
CREDIT: Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia.
Typically, bottlenose dolphins live in small to medium-sized groups in coastal and open-sea waters. Every now and then, a dolphin might leave its pod and approach human settlements along the coast. Cases of dolphins entering coastal or urban areas are well-documented, so scientists need to know more about what drives this behavior in order to protect them.
Two dolphin species—common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins—used to be abundant throughout the Adriatic Sea, including in the Venetian Lagoon. However, common dolphins virtually disappeared before the 1970s due to human impact. As a species, bottlenose dolphins are generally more adaptable and resilient than common dolphins and still occur in the Adriatic Sea. However, they have been avoiding lagoon waters as of late.
As soon as Mimmo the dolphin was spotted in June 2025, scientists began weekly monitoring of the solitary mammal from boats. Over the next few months, the dolphin moved from the southern end of the lagoon north towards Venice at the northern end of the lagoon. The dolphin is still present closer to Venice. According to the team, dolphins are adapted to living there.
“Observing bottlenose dolphins in urban areas is not particularly surprising, as they are extremely adaptable and opportunistic marine mammals,” said Pietroluongo. “Mimmo appears healthy and is regularly observed feeding on mullets. Since his arrival in the lagoon, any behavior displayed has been typical of the species.”
The solo bottlenose dolphin was spotted in June 2025. Image: Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia.
More worrying than the dolphin in the lagoon is its stay in the San Marco Basin. The basin in front of San Marco Square, Venice’s busiest and most popular tourist area. Staying this close to a hotspot of human—and pigeon—activity comes with several risks the dolphin would face less of in the open seas. For example, the risk of injury from boat propellers increases with more vessel traffic. The team does point out that dolphins in open waters also encounter significant human threats, primarily from fisheries.
In Venice specifically, humans pose the greatest danger to the dolphin, particularly through irresponsible boat driving. Enforcing speed limits and close approaches are necessary to keep the dolphin safe.
“This situation is primarily about managing human behavior rather than managing the dolphin,” added study co-author Dr. Giovanni Bearzi, who has been studying Adriatic dolphins for four decades. “Recognizing the priority of safeguarding a protected species, treating it as a wild animal, and behaving in an informed, aware, and responsible way is key in wildlife management.”
Early attempts at pushing the dolphin back into open water using sounds did not work and capturing the dolphin to displace it comes with more risk than reward. According to the team, conservation action should be guided by experts and not sensationalist narratives. These include a ban on harmful interactions with the dolphin and strictly enforcing existing regulations. Under current laws, any disturbance of a wild and protected animal, including trying to touch or feed it, is legally prohibited.
“What is truly unusual is not the dolphin’s presence, but the persistent difficulty humans have in respecting such animals today,” Bearzi concluded. “We need to appreciate the opportunities to coexist with and enjoy wildlife. Historical and contemporary documentation clearly shows that dolphins have accompanied human maritime activities for millennia, yet we still struggle to coexist with them appropriately.”
Laura is Popular Science’s news editor, overseeing coverage of a wide variety of subjects. Laura is particularly fascinated by all things aquatic, paleontology, nanotechnology, and exploring how science influences daily life.
Buffalo cow looks out from a pen at an intensive buffalo dairy farm.
Her muzzle is tightly fitted with a spiked anti-suckling device to restrict her from suckling
from other buffalo cows
our investigation uncovered evidence of the following:
Unlike female calves, his ear remains untagged as he will be killed within days, likely without being registered. Pierri Buffalo Dairy Farm,
Animal suffering: Buffaloes are subjected to harsh conditions, including restrictive confinement and poorly regulated farming practices. The animals are treated as production machines and display unnatural behaviours, far from the idyllic pasture-based lives suggested by advertising.
Excrement coats the legs of water buffalo cows standing on a floor thickly covered with waste at an intensive buffalo dairy farm. Cooperativa Ponte Sant’Antonio, San Tammaro, Caserta, Italy, 2024.
Photo: Raffaele Petralla / We Animals
Environmental damage: Nitrate pollution from buffalo waste has severely impacted local water systems in Campania, affecting biodiversity and local communities’ health. Several farms also resort to illegal practices, including improper sewage disposal in waterways, exacerbating the region’s environmental decline.
Misleading marketing: Brands like Garofalo and La Marchesa continue to use the “Made in Italy” narrative, invoking images of pristine landscapes and happy buffaloes while ignoring the grim realities behind their production. The advertising often masks these issues and paints an unrealistic picture of animal welfare and sustainability.
Economic challenges: Amidst global demand, farmers struggle with falling milk prices—mainly due to corporate pressure and the rise of large-scale industrial production—placing local communities under financial strain and impacting the quality of the mozzarella they produce.
.webp)
