Animal Justice Party (NSW) has condemned Central Coast Council for being “totally out of touch with residents with their ongoing support of cruel and socially unacceptable animal circuses.”
“In response to the Council’s blatant disregard for animal welfare and residents’ concerns, the Animal Justice Party will continue their state-wide series of peaceful protests to raise awareness about captive animals being used as profit-making entertainment props,” the AJP’s NSW Convenor, Ms Lisa Ryan, said.
The Animal Justice Party protested at the Stardust Circus at Gosford on January 5.
Stardust is one of the last two remaining Australian circuses using animals, currently holding in captivity, horses, pigs, goats, monkeys and African lions.
“Training regimes and performances force circus animals to engage in unnatural behaviour for human entertainment.
“When not ‘performing’, these animals are denied the opportunity to roam freely, form complex social groups, and manage their surroundings,” said the AJP’s NSW Circus Campaign Co-ordinator, Ms Rebecca See.
Ms Ryan added, “Cruelty involves more than the physical, it also includes the denial of their emotional and psychological needs, leading to suffering where their uniqueness and individuality is not met.
“An hour of entertainment for the audience means a lifetime of imprisonment and misery for these animals.”
“In order to protect animals from Council-supported exploitation of animals, the Animal Justice Party will be pushing their bill in the NSW Parliament to ban animal circuses in NSW,” she said.
The bill will amend the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986, to prohibit the exhibition of specified animals in connection with a circus, amusement park, fair or similar place of entertainment.
Stardust owner, Ms Jan Lennon, has hit back at allegations of mistreatment on Stardust’s Facebook page.
“Our animals get the best of everything.
“Our animals have air conditioning units so that they can retreat to and from as they please.
“We have cancelled shows due to the extreme heat in Gosford and all of our animals are regularly monitored to ensure their health and safety.
“All our animals have been born and bred in captivity and they are all well and loved.
“They receive the best care in all aspects of their life,” she wrote.
Ms Lennon also reported the Circus was inspected by the RSPCA on January 7 and said that they were “very happy with everything.”
Council has informed Stardust that 2017/18 could be their last visit to Gosford waterfront due to future development plans for the area.
Stardust has been visiting the Central Coast for over two decades.
Source:
Media release, Jan 3
Lisa Ryan, AJP NSW
Website, Jan 7
Jan Lennon, Stardust Circus Facebook page