The rights of circus animals...

...are so limited it's not funny. This report is about the Apollo Circus, currently in Chandigarh, where the Deputy Commissioner has directed a vet to check the conditions of the animals performing. This is where the circus's responsibility ends:

Jain had lodged a complaint with UT District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner R.K. Rao. He said the circus owner should ensure proper watering and feeding of animals besides proper care.
The owner should also ensure that the animals are not inflicted any unnecessary pain or suffering before or during or after its training and exhibition, he said.
The Inspecting Authority added that animals should not be made to fight with each other and that the Circus owner should ensure that sedatives or tranquilisers or steroids or any other artificial enhancers are not administered to the animals.
Besides, the owner shall not deprive the animal of food or water in order to compel an animal to perform any trick.
The owner shall ensure that the animal shall not be transported or be kept or confined in cages and receptacles which do not measure in height, length or breadth as specified under the Transportation of Animal Rules, 1978, the complainant said.

It's pretty much like saying don't torture them, feed them gruel, and let them stretch--not even, you'll note, let them have comfortable living quarters, let them get proper exercise, make sure they're happy, none of that. Just make sure the scars don't show and that they're not too thin.