Circus protest

Circus protest

By Stephen Bull

ADELAIDE — About 100 animal rights supporters braved the rain and wind at Bonython Park on October 1 to protest against the use of animals in circuses. Animal Liberation used the occasion of the first matinee of the Adelaide season of Ashton's Circus to draw attention to the plight of circus animals.

Demonstrators displayed signs and banners condemning the exploitation of animals and distributed information leaflets to parents and balloons which read "Ban animal acts" to the children. As customers approached the box office, they were besieged by aggressive Ashton's Circus workers, who tore up leaflets and burst the children's balloons as a condition of entry.

Animal Liberation spokesperson Janiece Pope said that the demonstration was a peaceful way of informing circus goers that using animals, especially exotic so-called "wild" animals, was cruel and unnecessary.

These animals are caged for long periods in very small areas. (I saw at five fully grown lions and tigers in one metal trailer measuring less than 6m x 2m). Ashton's squeezes three fully grown elephants into one semi-trailer while transporting them. When they are out of the trailer, their feet are chained to restrict movement. The "big cats" usually manage to escape their tiny prisons only long enough to perform.

To date 27 municipal councils have passed motions prohibiting the lease of council land to animal circuses. The ACT has banned all animal circuses from passing through its territory.

From GLW issue 163