Zoo lowers the curtain on circus acts
Print Edition
The closure of a circus at a zoo in south China鈥檚 Guangdong Province has stirred controversy.
Guangzhou Zoo said the area would be used to build a scientific exhibition center.
Circus head Huang Yingzhi said that the venue had been contracted to a circus operator from east China鈥檚 Anhui Province in 1993, and performances had been held there ever since.
鈥淲e still have about 70 animals, monkeys, bears, tigers, gorillas and parrots. We received notice for the shutdown on August 14, but we have been negotiating with the zoo to stay,鈥 he said.
Huang and his employees have refused to leave, insisting there is no reason to close the circus.
Over the weekend, it was still selling tickets and there were a few dozen people watching a show where monkeys rode bikes, gorillas played drums and bears did headstands on high-rise bars.
鈥淎udience numbers have not declined, and our place is popular. More than 13 million people have watched the shows over the past 24 years,鈥 Huang said.
鈥淎s much as we do not want to leave, we probably have to because the zoo has made the announcement public. We are still discussing with the zoo as to our future after the closure. The zoo has offered to help transport the animals,鈥 Huang said.
Circus shows have been opposed by animal rights advocates as they can involve animal abuse.
鈥淎s an adult, I get no comfort from watching animals being humanized and forced to act, and I don鈥檛 think there is any educational value for children,鈥 said a Guangzhou resident surnamed Liu. 鈥淭here are other ways to get children to learn about animals.鈥
The zoo鈥檚 management said the contract with the circus had expired and the venue would be transformed into a scientific exhibition center.
鈥淰isitors can learn knowledge about animals at the center in a respectful way,鈥 said Lin Xingrong, director of the zoo office. 鈥淥ur aim is to show animals in the most natural state possible. In recent years, we have installed facilities in the zoo to improve the activities and living conditions of the animals.鈥
Several visitors expressed regret.
One said: 鈥淎nimal shows bring excitement to children. After the show is shut down, the animals probably have nowhere to go and who knows what misery they will suffer. At least this circus was quite popular.鈥
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