Young and Hungry - For Life - 52. Epilogue

Posted on 26 March 2021 at 8:30AM by PETA Australia

For the first time in history, no wild animal will be forced to perform under Australia’s big top, now that Stardust Circus – the last circus in Australia that was still using wild animals – has retired the lions and monkeys it was using.

Here at PETA, we’re jumping for joy to hear it – and we’re far from alone! The overwhelming majority of Australians understand that captivity is a living hell for animals such as monkeys and lions and that a circus environment can’t possibly meet their complex needs.

In 2020, a survey conducted by YouGov and funded by PETA found that 75% of Australians wanted to see a ban on circuses using exotic animals. The survey found that 85% of Australians between the ages of 18 and 34 supported such a ban.

Interestingly, a majority of people with children under the age of 18 at home (80%) said that they support a ban, demonstrating that few families consider watching frustrated, stressed, and depressed animals being forced to perform painful tricks under the Victorian-era big top a form of family entertainment.

Lions in their natural habitat roam vast areas, claiming territory and seeking out mates, but they can’t do this while being confined to wagons or trucks for days at a time during a circus tour.

Macaque monkeys are our close relatives, and they prefer to live in large mixed groups, not inside metal cages with limited opportunities to socialise.

These days, people go to the circus to see talented human performers, not psychologically tormented animals.

Stardust must now do the right thing by the lions and monkeys in its care by retiring them to a reputable sanctuary, where they’d be able to have some semblance of the natural life that they’ve been robbed of for so long.

April 15, 2021 - 2:58PM - NCA NewsWire - by Melissa Iaria

Australia’s last circus using lions and monkeys has been forced to retire the wild animals after being unable to get insurance.

Stardust Circus has been using lions in its travelling family circus for half a century but had to retire its six lions and four monkeys earlier this month after being unable to renew its insurance.

“We tried everywhere. We couldn’t get it at all and that was the end of that,” circus matriarch Jan Lennon said.

“About half a dozen brokers tried everyone.

“The silly thing is we’ve never had a claim with the lions or anything like any risk whatsoever.”

Mrs Lennon said Pen Underwriting refused coverage for the exotic animals without explanation. Pen has been contacted for comment.

The animals are being looked after in the interim, with the circus arranging to move them to a NSW zoo.

But that could take months as special enclosures are being built for them requiring government approval.

“All the zoos have got enough lions, you can’t just throw them in with others, they’ll kill each other. So they have to have separate accommodation for them. This is why it’s taking a bit of time,” Ms Lennon said.

FROM NEWS.COM.AU