The exploitation of animals for entertainment stems from humanity’s long-standing belief in our dominion over other species. In these situations, profit often takes precedence over animal welfare. As a result, animals are routinely exposed to danger, forced to perform risky acts for human amusement and financial gain. This practice repeatedly jeopardises their safety, health, and lives, treating them as disposable commodities rather than sentient beings deserving of respect and protection.
This policy is a wide and generic policy providing breadth to support standalone policies for specific cases of animal use in entertainment, for example our Ban Greyhound Racing policy. This generic policy includes animals in zoos and aquaria, keeping cetaceans in captivity, agricultural and pastoral show animals (for example for riding), or chickens hatched to provide entertainment for children, and ensuring that animals are not reintroduced to circuses and all other uses.
AJP advocates for an end to animal exploitation for artistic, fashion, cultural, sporting or entertainment purposes, and will work toward ensuring no animal is forced into a working life for ‘entertainment’ and/or gambling purposes.
Key Objectives:
Ban the use of animals for entertainment purposes.
Interim measures, while we work towards the complete ban, include:
- Ban all forms of animal ‘entertainment’ that are funded through or support gambling.
- Call for complete transparency of organisations that currently profit from animals in entertainment.
- Ban the breeding of all animal species for ‘sporting’ performance.
- Ban the forcing of animals to perform at high and peak levels.
- Implement rigorous inspections of zoos, wildlife parks and aquaria to ensure their facilities and staffing numbers are optimum for the animals.
- Support those needing help transitioning to alternative careers.