"The circus environment is now, and will remain, grossly inimical to the health and welfare of wild animals, whether used for performance and/or exhibition. As a veterinarian, I am of the opinion that such use of animals is cruel and should be prevented."

—John Auty, MVSc
Former Assistant Director of the Bureau of Animal Health
Department of Primary Industries, Canberra

Wild animals used in circuses are routinely subjected to months on the road confined in small, barren cages. These animals often live in filthy and dilapidated enclosures or are chained in one position for the majority of the day with no chance to move, let alone express their full range of natural behaviours or to socialize with other members of their species.

Eliminating animal exploitation in circuses simply means the increased use of human performers, not an end to the tradition of circuses.

For further information please see AnimalCircuses.com

What You Can Do:

• Take the pledge not to support exotic animal circuses.
• Contact your local council to find out if it allows animal circuses on its land. If it does, write a letter asking them to ban animal circuses in your area.
• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper, or speak on talk-back radio about the cruelties involved in animal circuses and why they should be banned.

If there is an exotic animal circus coming to town...

1. Write a letter to your local paper explaining that you won't be attending due to the cruelty of confining exotic animals in circuses.
2. If you see local shops displaying posters for the circus, speak to the manager and politely explain why you are opposed to exotic animal circuses, and request that they remove the advertisment.
3. If you decide to leaflet outside the circus, be careful, and always try and avoid confrontations with circus employees.

 

See also:Sign the Petition to Free Saigon!Exotic Animal Circuses Banned by Three More CouncilsA Current Affair to air the story of Saigon, Australia's last circus elephantCircus without animals enjoying boom times

Anything but glamorous: circus animals are forced into lives of barren captifity, isolation and suffering.