Despite having their lease terminated, the animal circus at the Guangzhou Zoo has continued operating as usual, earning the ire of zoo officials.
The Guangzhou Zoo announced on August 30 that they would not be renewing the Anhui Guangde Animal Circus’ contract, which expired the following day. Despite pleas from the zoo to pack up and call it a day – and an offer to help move the animals – the circus has kept selling tickets and staging shows.
A staffer at the zoo told That’s this afternoon that circus shows are being held today despite organizers being asked to cease and desist.
The head of the Guangzhou Zoo’s administrative department, Lin Xingrong, told Sixth Tone that the circus, which has been performing at the zoo for the past 24 years, was informed multiple times that their contract would not be renewed in advance of the public announcement.
The circus has chosen to ignore the zoo’s request to leave, prompting the facility to issue a notice on Monday that deemed the circus’ ongoing presence 'illicit business behavior.' The release also asked visitors not to purchase tickets to the circus performances.
But the Anhui Guangde Animal Circus remains defiant, with the circus’ director, Huang Yingzhi, telling Sixth Tone that the shows employ 20 people who “need to eat,” and that the organization “are defending the whole circus business.”
He added that “zoos and animal circuses go very well together” before addressing the oft-criticized training methods used by animal circuses, stating:
“Some parents hit children to discipline them. It’s violence, but not abuse. We depend on these animals, so why would we abuse them?”
Er, okay then.
Since 1993, the Guangzhou Zoo has welcomed millions of visitors to attend their half-hour circus shows, which include monkeys, bears, tigers and parrots – among other species.
Plans are currently in place to transform the circus arena into a nonprofit education center, with the aim of educating visitors about animal behavior and conducting research. “This is a development trend for zoos around the world,” Lin told Sixth Tone.
Visitors to the zoo will be able to check out the planned center free of charge.
So, what will happen if the circus refuses to leave? Legal action, according to a Guangzhou Zoo employee we spoke with, although they were unable to offer specifics about how and when that might happen.
[Images via VCG h/t China Daily, Sixth Tone, China Global Television Network]
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