Circuses RSPCA WA comment

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Circuses - A Presidents View

 

By Eric Ball

President

RSPCA WA (Western Australia)

http://www.rspcawa.asn.au/News/TempNews/CircusIssue.htm

 

With regard to circuses, it really is a commonsense issue about which

the vast majority of the community knows what's right, and what should

happen about it. But sadly the wheels of legal progress turn slowly.

 

Forgive the pun, but years and years of useless talkfest have made a

circus out of a simple debate.

 

It would be easy to just ignore the historic arguments for using wild

animals for entertainment under today's modern Big Top, but the subject

is too serious to ignore.

 

There are still some folks out there grasping for support for locking up

wild animals in confined crates every day, and hauling them all over the

country month after month, without relief, and with no future.

 

The case for wild animals in circuses seems to come from two concepts:

• " firstly, that " … wild animals are entertaining and circuses allow

people to see wild animals. " , and "

• secondly, that " … the circus is similar to other organisations where

interaction exists between animals and humans in working partnerships. "

 

On the first issue, wild animals locked away in crates and coerced into

public performances unnatural to their behaviour, is not entertainment.

 

Entertainment is seeing the big cats, the bears, the elephants and other

exotic species enjoying the wild from whence they came. Electronic media

shows us grand film every day of nature's huge beasts at play in the

wild.

 

Despite criticism of zoo animals, within every Australian capital city

there is a modern zoo with wild animals free to wander in reasonable

environments, to be seen by all. Not just one or two animals, but many

exotic species, beyond the capacity of any circus to bring animals and

humans together.

 

Captive circus animals fulfil no modern purpose. Modern circus is

wonderful, and bringing wild animals into the performance depreciates

the show, the skill and the talent of dedicated circus performers.

 

On the second issue, it is true that many working partnerships exist

between humans and animals, but the animals are almost always companion

animals. Dogs and horses in particular meet this test, but few others.

 

The concern and difference with circuses is their use of exotic animals

which are confined in constant caging, which are in constant transport

in crates, which enjoy no freedom of expression, which have been coerced

into performances, and for which there is no future expectation except

euthanasia or natural death.

 

Circus relationships depend upon the performance of the animal in ways

which are foreign to its nature; a relationship which depends upon the

constant confinement of the animal to protect humans from danger; and

the constant transportation of the animal from place to place, day after

day, month after month, across the country.

 

Conversely, companion animals form exceptional bonds with humans, They

often perform with enthusiasm and apparent enjoyment, and because they

are not wild animals they are given freedom for interaction with humans

and other animals. They are able to give and receive in their

relationships with humans.

 

There may be a working partnership between exotic animals and humans in

circus, but it is coerced, restrained and restricted, and provides

nothing for the animal but a certain future of coercement, restraint and

restriction.

 

It is just not valid to argue that the circus is similar to other

organisations.

 

The time for retiring circus animals from their crates and the modern

Big Top has long past. If the circuses won't do that then it's time

humane regulators stepped in.

 

The State has not yet moved on the issue but many local government

Councils already have. Perth City Council has denied a permit to one

circus for April, May and July 2003, and has undertaken to review its

Policy on permits for circuses which seek to bring performing animals to

the City.

 

I congratulate Perth City Council on its decision, and commend to

Councillors the many similar examples already set around the country by

numerous local government councils.

 

I urge Perth City Councillors to continue their community leadership by

rescinding the present permissive Policy in favour of one which the

greater community will applaud.

 

Eric Ball

President

 

22nd January 2003