Exotic Animals in Circuses
Thank you to the 10,000+ plus animal lovers in NSW who recently signed our joint petition to ban circuses with exotic animal performances in NSW.
Lord Mayor of Sydney and Independent MP Clover Moore presented the petition to the NSW State Parliament on the 6 September 2011. The issue was debated by Parliament on Wednesday 14 September. To read the hansard report from the debate, please click on the link below and in the document, search for the word 'circus':
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hanstrans.nsf/V3ByKey/LA20110914?open&refNavID=HA1_1
We still need your help to urge MPs to support a ban on circuses with exotic animal preformances in NSW.
Click here to find your local MP and use our online form to send them a message >
Please find below some sample text you can use when writing or emailing your local MP. Please consider putting your thoughts into your own words as this can have much more of an effect.
Dear [MP Name]
As a resident in your constituency I call on you to support a state-wide ban on circuses that unnecessarily use exotic animals to perform tricks for 'entertainment'.
Performing circus animals, such as lions, tigers and monkeys, are kept for prolonged periods in close confinement, in artificial social groups; they are continually being transported between circus venues for the duration of their performing lives and are often subjected to cruel training techniques - all for the purpose of entertainment. Scientific studies have shown that the life of a circus animal leads to stress and boredom, and often results in abnormal behaviours such as repetitive pacing or swaying.
In 2009, a review of the suitability of wild animals to live in a travelling circus was published in the journal Animal Welfare (Iossa G, Soulsbury CD Harris S. (2009) Are wild animals suited to a travelling circus life? Animal Welfare 18: 129-140). This review found that for non-domesticated (exotic) animals to be suitable for circus life, circus animals would need to exhibit low space requirements, simple social structures, low cognitive function, non-specialist ecological requirements and an ability to be transported without adverse welfare effects. None of the commonest species exhibited by circuses, such as elephants and lions, currently meet these essential animal welfare criteria.
In addition, the use of exotic animals in circuses offers absolutely no value in terms of conservation, nor serves any educational purpose; especially in relation to educating children and the general public about the proper way to treat and respect animals.
I ask you to support a ban on circuses with exotic animal performances in New South Wales and look forward to hearing of your support in a reply to this correspondence.
Regards
[Insert Your Name, Suburb, NSW]
Thank you again for your support of this campaign to end the misery of exotic animals in circuses in NSW. By contacting your local state MP you are giving a voice to those who cannot speak to defend themselves.
What is the RSPCA's position on exotic animals in circuses?
In the specific case of circuses, the RSPCA is opposed to the continued use of non-domesticated (exotic) animals, such as elephants, large cats and non-human primates (monkeys), because the requirements of circus life are not compatible with the physiological, social and behavioural needs of these animals.
Our concerns are not directed at the treatment of these animals by individual keepers. For the most part, when RSPCA inspectors visit circuses and inspect their animals against the requirements of the National Circus Standards or their State/Territory equivalent, they are satisfied with the level of compliance with those standards that they are able to assess during an inspection. The RSPCA's policy is based on the fact that no circus, no matter how well managed, can provide an appropriate environment for wild animals.
Performing circus animals are kept for prolonged periods in close confinement, in artificial social groups and are continually being transported between circus venues for the duration of their performing lives. All for the purpose of entertainment. The life of a circus animal leads to stress, boredom and often results in abnormal behaviours or stereotypies, such as repetitive pacing or swaying.
Elephants and non-human primates are highly intelligent, complex, and very social. They require a high level of stimulation to prevent them from becoming bored in a captive environment. In the wild, elephants occupy very large home ranges and will cover tens of kilometres every day moving from one feeding location to another and spending long periods of time foraging and eating. Captive big cats also require regular stimulation and show severe signs of boredom and frustration when kept in the restricted environment of a circus pen.
While exotic animals remain in circuses, any improvement in their welfare, such as the adoption of national standards, is welcomed. However, such standards reflect minimum requirements and do not address the fundamental problems of keeping wild animals in circuses. Neither do the standards set a timetable for the phasing out of wild animals in circuses.
While it is unlikely that any of the elephants currently owned by circuses in Australia will be replaced, unless there is strong and active discouragement from the local community, circuses will continue to breed and train other wild animals for the sole purpose of performing. Acting to prevent circuses using wild animals from appearing on council land sends a clear message that this activity is no longer acceptable to the Australia community.
The RSPCA would prefer that all animals (including domestic animals) not be used in circuses to further ensure that they aren’t portrayed in ways that may objectify them or subject them to indignity or ridicule.
Further reading
In 2009 a review of the suitability of wild animals to live in a travelling circus was published in the journal Animal Welfare*. This review found that for non-domesticated animals to be suitable for circus life they would need to exhibit low space requirements, simple social structures, low cognitive function, non-specialist ecological requirements and an ability to be transported without adverse welfare effects. None of the commonest species exhibited by circuses, such as elephants and lions, currently meet these criteria. The study concluded that the species of non-domesticated animals commonly kept in circuses appear the least suited to a circus life.
*Iossa G, Soulsbury CD Harris S. (2009) Are wild animals suited to a travelling circus life? Animal Welfare 18: 129-140
What can I do to help?
• Write to your council or state and federal government to demand that circuses with exotic animal performances be banned.
• Please inform family and friends of the animal welfare issues that exotic animals face in circuses and ask them to visit human circuses such as Cirque de Soliel.
August 2009
The RSPCA congratulates Ku-Ring-Gai Council’s decision to reinstate its ban on exotic animal circuses on council land, yesterday 9 November 2010.
“We are very relieved that Ku-Ring-Gai Council has had a change of heart and reinstated the ban on exotic animal circuses in the Ku-Ring-Gai area,” said RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman. “It’s a win for common sense, animal welfare and, most of all, a win for exotic animals that are forced to perform tricks, travel long distances and live in unnatural environments. The science has been in for a very long time; circus life can’t meet the social, behavioural or physical needs of exotic animals.”
Ku-Ring-Gai Council’s previous 10-year ban on circuses featuring both exotic and domestic animals was lifted in August this year, sparking outrage amongst the community and animal welfare groups.
Ku-Ring-Gai Council’s previous 10-year ban on circuses featuring both exotic and domestic animals was lifted in August this year, sparking outrage amongst the community and animal welfare groups.
After receiving numerous letters and emails objecting to the Council’s decision, and the presentation of a joint RSPCA NSW and Animals Asia Foundation petition containing over 4,000 signatures calling for the ban to be reinstated, a recision motion was voted on by Council last night with seven councillors voting in favour of reinstating the ban and three against.
“We are relieved that Ku-Ring-Gai Council has rejoined the growing list of councils across Australia that have heeded community concerns and banned circuses with exotic animals from appearing on council land,” said Mr Coleman.
The RSPCA NSW and other animal welfare groups will now lobby the NSW Government for a state-wide ban on exotic animal circuses.
“We are relieved that Ku-Ring-Gai Council has rejoined the growing list of councils across Australia that have heeded community concerns and banned circuses with exotic animals from appearing on council land,” said Mr Coleman.
The RSPCA NSW and other animal welfare groups will now lobby the NSW Government for a state-wide ban on exotic animal circuses.
