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Another Lifeforce Step Forward To Banning All Animal Performances
posted on April 20, 2012
I am pleased to report that there will be no live animal acts in the upcoming Aida opera in accordance with City of Vancouver Bylaw #5156. Within a couple of days of hearing of the plans to use two falcons Lifeforce convinced them to drop the act. Lifeforce continues to make sure laws are being enforced.
I further asked the opera company to support no more live animal acts in order to stop the exploitation of animals and to protect public safety. Raptors are inhumanely confined and forced to perform on cue for food. Wildlife is inherently wild and unpredictable. During raptor shows they have flown off, and have injured audience members. At the Greater Vancouver Zoo a hawk disobeyed commands and attacked a 4 year old boy. And one of their eagles flew away and was killed by lions.
This is no longer publicly acceptable now that the public is aware of the cruelty behind the scenes. Modern technology brings many humane alternatives. For example, it would be breath taking to see wildlife living freely on large screens in theatrical performances.
I also have asked City Council to take action to communicate the restrictions on animal performances when businesses request licenses and/or permits. The business licensing department advised me that they do not refer to the prohibitions on some animal acts. Doug Tuck, Marketing for Aida, said that they were not aware of the bylaw banning such acts.
Since the 80s Lifeforce has been instrumental in achieving bans on animal acts. Prior to this I used the BC Liqour Control Board Act to stop a stripper with a tiger and later a planned Whistler bar act whose tiger later killed a person. Based on my investigations the first circus bans in the world happened in Saanich and Victoria, BC. The laws included both wild and domestic animals. All animals suffer in the entertainment industry. Later in Vancouver, a different humane society compromised for only wild animal prohibitions. That continues to take the bite out of these types of animal protection bylaws. Fortunately Bolivia recently banned all animal acts in circus. Hopefully organizations will learn from this victory and finally get back to defending the rights of all.
Here’s some media coverage:
Vancouver Opera Pulls Animal Act.
UPDATE May 2012
The falcon trainer, who was to be hired for the Aida opera, wanted to educate Lifeforce about what she claimed was our misunderstanding of falconry. Let’s make it clear.
The Lifeforce work is to protect people, animals and the environment. Animal Rights is against the exploitation of animals in the movie industry and entertainment businesses. In regards to “falconry” it violates animal rights to use animals for “sport”/game hunting. This not only include the birds of prey but dogs and horses too. It is a barbaric past that should be left in the history books NOT continued in a future more enlighten world. There is no bond “training” falcons to do what humans force them to do for food “rewards”. And, certainly NOT preserving history by getting them to go to para gliders for food! More circus tricks. They are enslaved by humans for financial and personal gains.Raptor shows have developed quite a business. They include the Vancouver Aquarium and the Greater Vancouver Zoo. Let the animals be free from human tyranny.
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