Please refuse to support animal abuse in Vermont by boycotting Wildlife Entertainment & Education's American Alligators' "Kachunga and the Alligator Show" at the Orleans County Fair in Barton (August 17-21) and the Champlain Valley Fair in Essex Junction (August 26-September 4).
There is nothing sporting or educational about "Man vs. Gator" wrestling contests. A common format includes the handler dragging the alligator by its tail, intentionally provoking and tormenting the animal with a stick or by hitting it until it opens its mouth to show its teeth which typically leads to other aggressive behaviors to thrill the public such as "lashing tail and gnashing jaws in a dangerous dance of reflexes and cunning."
Wrestlers may jump onto the alligator's back, or force the mouth closed and attempt to flip the animal, causing extreme distress and the triggering of the animal's fight or flight reflex. Since it cannot flee, the alligator is forced to struggle into fighting to free itself or to try to attack in self-defense.
These acts are oftentimes performed multiple times per day. In addition, it is not uncommon for alligators to be transported long distances in very restrictive and unsanitary conditions, often with their mouths taped shut.
Green Mountain Animal Defenders (GMAD) believes that this type of exhibition violates Vermont's animal protection laws, 13 V.S.A. sec. 364, which prohibits animal fighting, and 13 V.S.A. sec. 352, which prohibits cruelty to animals. The relevant authorities to these potential violations of the law have been alerted by GMAD.
While Kachunga has a choice to participate in this wrestling match, the alligators have no choice. Please use social media to urge the Orleans County Fair, the Champlain Valley Fair and the Vermont Farm Bureau to cancel the Kachunga and the Alligator Show events:
Orleans County Fair: https://www.facebook.com/bartonfair/
Champlain Valley Fair: @VCFair https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Champlain%20Valley%20Fair
Vermont Farm Bureau: @VTFarmBureau and http://www.vtfb.org/
To let event organizers Mike Tetreault, president of the directors of the Orleans County Fair Association, Alfred Gobeille, Champlain Valley Expo's board president, and David Warner of TD Bank (sponsor of the Orleans' shows) know that Vermonters want to be entertained without causing animals to suffer, please sign and share this petition, and then "like" our Facebook page: Green Mountain Animal Defenders' Facebook Page.
