Several residents will aim to give circus animals a voice with a silent protest when the Lennon Brothers Circus arrives in Cootamundra.
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The big-top circus – which features exotic animals including lions, monkeys, camels, donkeys and dogs – will stage performances until Sunday with the first scheduled to start at 6pm on Wednesday.
Protest organiser Sam Hulford said protesters would rally at 5pm on Wednesday in Berthong Street outside the showgrounds.
Miss Hulford said the silent demonstration wasn’t about stopping people entering the circus.
“We want to encourage people to think about what they’re seeing,” she said.
“Our goal is to educate people and get them to think about it, if they haven’t already.”
Miss Hulford said idea of the protest came about after hearing Lennon Brothers Circus was coming.
“I thought Australia had banned exotic animals in circuses,” she said.
“I have read about other councils banning them from performing on council land.
“Around 40 councils have banned them and I thought ‘why shouldn’t we’.”
An online petition has been created and Miss Hulford hopes to use it to convince Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Councillors to ban circuses with exotic animals.
Lennon Brothers Circus owner Jan Lennon said the protest wasn’t a concern.
“We don’t worry as long as they don’t hinder people coming into show,” Mrs Lennon said.
She said she had seen some protests turned violent in years past and warned if people were hindered coming in, they would be calling the police.
Mrs Lennon said animal liberationists had been offered the chance to see where and how the animals were cared for, but none had taken up the offer.
“We come under a very strict code of practice and we go overboard to fulfill it, the space for the animals is usually double the requirement,” she said.
Mrs Lennon said the information many protesters used to get attention from the community was often false and was “a bit of a beat-up”.
She said their focus from Wednesday would be about providing a good show which was suitable for all ages.
“It’s good family entertainment,” she said.
As well as exotic animals, Mrs Lennon said there was acrobats, the ‘wheel of death’ and comedy acts by clowns.
Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
