Townsville Council: ban exotic animal circuses!
- by: M. Williams
- recipient: CR LES TYRELL OAM - Mayor of Townsville City Council
Have you ever stopped to consider the life of a circus animal: chained, caged, forced to live in cramped and totally unsuitable housing, and hauled from town to town in a beast wagon? Regardless of the number of generations that wild animals have been in captivity, captive-born wild animals do not lose the instincts and needs of wild animals. They retain their natural instincts to socialise and to roam freely. Circuses deny captive-born wild animals their ability to exhibit natural behaviours.
It's time for Townsville to follow the good example of other Queensland Councils, such as Gold Coast and Ipswich Councils, who have already led the way and put a ban on circuses that contain exotic animals from using Council land.
Re: Circus with Animals being allowed on Council land Dear Councillor,
I am very disappointed to learn that Townsville City Council continues to approve circuses with animals on council-controlled land.
In many countries around the civilised world and in some 40 council areas in Australia (and in the ACT), circuses with performing animals are banned. This is in response to a growing community awareness of cruelty to circus animals (whether exotic or domestic) in behind-the-scenes training, and stress caused by constant transportation and perpetual captivity.
Animals should not be coerced into performing unnatural acts for the amusement of human beings or forced to live their lives in these conditions merely to provide entertainment. This is immoral and degrading for all concerned. It is particularly offensive that children should be exposed to such futile and exploitative mistreatment of animals for their amusement.
I strongly urge you and your colleagues to join the other humane and enlightened local authorities around Australia and ban circuses with animals from the Townsville City Council region for ever.
M.Williams
stopthecruelty@animallover.com.au Sign PetitionSign Petition