Animals used in circuses spend most of their lives being carted from one performance to another or held in barren temporary enclosures and may even be beaten or punished as part of the circuses' barbaric training methods.
MICHAEL DAHLSTROM: ‘The future of circuses and dolphin parks could be decided by the so called “animals in entertainment” inquiry just announced by NSW parliament. The announcement has stoked a fierce rift between animal rights groups and circuses as both vie for public support. The inquiry will examine whether exotic animals should be performing tricks for human entertainment in NSW and the future of captive breeding programs… Animal Justice Party’s Emma Hurst will act as deputy chair.
Ms Hurst told Yahoo News Australia that there needs to be legislative change in this particular area. “I think that things that have been around for a long time, like circuses, are no longer acceptable for the community,” she said. “These animals are forced to live and travel in the circus in cages to do unnatural, mindless tricks and to perform for a dwindling number of human audiences. “Most people when I talk to them about the use of animals in circuses, they’re quite confused, they didn’t realise that it was still allowed and still going on”…
PETA spokesperson Emily Rice told Yahoo News Australia that people who care about animals should stay away from circuses who use animals. “Animals used in circuses spend most of their lives being carted from one performance to another or held in barren temporary enclosures and may even be beaten or punished as part of the circuses’ barbaric training methods,” she said.
“At Australian circuses we’ve seen animals pacing back and forth, or lying in full sun, without shade or any form of enrichment – this is far from the lives these animals would choose were they free. “Forcing any animal to perform absurd tricks for human entertainment is an archaic practice that has no place in Australia”… The tradition of exotic performing animals in NSW could be coming to an end, and Ms Rice said that PETA are willing to work with circuses to transition their animals into sanctuaries’. SOURCE…
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