Whilst I applaud the skills of the talented human performers in any circus, the Lennon Bros circus also includes ‘performances’ from ponies, monkeys, camels, donkeys, dogs and lions. 

Exotic and domesticated animals in circuses are routinely subjected to months of travelling, confined in small, barren cages in all types of climatic conditions. 

These animals are forced to live in enclosures denying them every opportunity to express their natural behaviour and their training is often based on fear and punishment as revealed by numerous undercover investigations. 

As circuses play no meaningful role in education or conservation, the lifelong suffering of these animals continues only for the sake of a few minutes of entertainment.

Circuses defend the use of exotic animals by claiming the animals are loved and well cared for. 

But, adding to an overwhelming body of evidence, the 2009 Scientific Review ‘Are wild animals suited to a travelling circus life?’ by the University of Bristol, UK confirms that it is impossible to satisfy the behavioural and welfare needs of exotic animals in travelling circuses. 

The study found that circus animals spent the majority of the day, about 1-9% performing/training and the remaining time in exercise pens. Exercise pens were significantly smaller than minimum zoo standards for outdoor enclosures. Inadequate diet and housing coupled with the effects of repeated performances lead to significant health problems. 

The scientists conclude that “the species of non-domesticated animals commonly kept in circuses appear the least suited to a circus life.”

Circuses also encourage children to believe that animals exist to perform unnatural acts for entertainment, and to spend their lives in captivity for this purpose. 

This is very damaging to nurturing children’s education about animals and their respect for them and their welfare. 

Circuses cannot recreate a natural environment nor can circus animals perform much natural behaviour. 

A non-domesticated animal’s life is consequently impoverished and the keeping of exotic animals in circuses should therefore be banned. 

My hope is that the Port Macquarie Hastings Council, will reconsider its stand on granting an “Application to stage an event’ to animal circuses to perform in the local region in the future.

Leonie Gambrill

Port Macquarie