By NOEL MURPHY
CIRCUSES have hit back at Surf Coast Shire’s ban on caged animals performing on council-owned land.
Circus Federation of Australia said circuses operating locally were licensed in Victoria and complied with a strict compulsory code of practice for their animals.
The federation has urged the public to contact Surf Coast against the ban.
“Animals in well-run, modern-day circuses receive first-class care and live in large, enriching outdoor exercise enclosures and comfortable night quarters,” the federation said.
“These enclosures are larger than required by law and are comparable to that of city zoos.”
Surf Coast banned caged-animal circuses on the grounds that circus life was incompatible with the physiological, social and behavioural needs of exotic animals such as elephants, large cats and monkeys.
“Performing circus animals are kept for prolonged periods in close confinement, in artificial social groups and are continually being transported between circus venues for the duration of their performing lives,” Cr Margot Smith, an RSPCA director, told council.
“The life of a circus animal leads to stress, boredom and often results in abnormal behaviours such as repetitive pacing or swaying.”
But the federation said animal welfare should not be confused with “animals rights extremism”.
Federation treasurer John Le Mare said the ban was odd because an RSPCA director spearheaded it depite the RSPCA helping draft the federation’s code of conduct with animals.
“The RSPCA’s position is that they do not like circuses but they have inspectors who come to all circuses, without notice, and we have not had a single infringement in the last 10 years.
“We’re closely monitored, so it’s vexatious to accuse circuses of being cruel to animals.
“The public … wants to see circuses with animals and only a few don’t.”
