What the experts have to say.

Dear Mayor and Councillors,

I have been asked to write to you to support the proposed ban on circuses with exotic animals in the shire of Port Stephens because of my experience with exotic animals since I was consultant veterinarian to Chester Zoo in England from 1950 - 1966, and, subsequently, elsewhere.

I first went to Africa professionally in 1964 and since then returned many times. In the early 70's I lived in S.Africa and taught at the Veterinary Faculty of Pretoria University. Then I returned to England and set up the wildlife dept. of the RSPCA, wrote a book called 'The Last Great Wild Beast Show' about the plight of exotic animals in zoos and circuses which was the catalyst that resulted in the Zoo Act.

While working for the RSPCA I was consulted by many Councils about allowing circuses on their land, and even then, 30 years ago, quite a number voted for a ban. Since then the world has moved on and the circus with exotic animals has almost disappeared. Its only purpose is entertainment and the majority of people find it cruel and irrelevent. Some species such as elephants and chimpanzees suffer most.

The elephant is not a domestic animal. It is tamed and can rebel. More people are killed or injured by captive elephants than any other captive species. Domestication is the process of selection for breeding by man who chooses the most docile and productive animals for breeding over many generations. Elephants usually breed in the wild and then are taken into captivity and tamed by breaking their will into submission.

The elephant needs a lot of exercise. In the wild it walks on average 20 miles per day. In a circus it is shut up or tethered most of the day. It is a very social animal and suffers if the social bonds are broken as they are in a circus. It is well known that transport of animals is stressful. There is much more I could say about the physiological and behaviour needs of exotic animals if necessary.

Education has been mentioned as a benefit, but the truth is that circuses only teach children that it is OK to dominate wild animals and make them perform unusual acts. As far as conservation is concerned very, very few elephants are born in circuses. Lions and tigers, on the other hand, produce a surplus which have to be disposed of.

I am sure most people are against the keeping of chimps in circuses. They are our nearest relative with 98% of genes in common. They have a superior short term memory to humans as has been demonstrated recently by researchers in Japan. They can suffer emotionally as much as humans do as I have seen in the circuses I examined.

If you have any questions please ask.


I am

Yours sincerely,
Dr. W.J.Jordan OBE