The RSPCA is calling for a state-wide ban on exotic animals in circuses and wants to make its campaign an election issue. The RSPCA's concerns are not directed at the treatment of the animals, which meet the requirements of the National Circus Standards

Courtesy of Wayne Jackson

This document reflects NCCAw's Recommended National Circus Standards
for the management and control of circuses in Australia.

All states and territories have been encouraged to adopt these standards for circuses that exhibit animals to ensure consistency.

These standards are endorsed by the Circus Federation of Australasia and encompass all areas of circus animal care, including transportation, housing, exhibition, and husbandry and training.

• Animal Dignity and Medical
• Behavioural Training
• Definitions
• Display Housing
• Handling and Husbandry
• Housing
• Interaction
• Night Quarters
• Responsibilities of the Circus Proprietor or Manager
• Suitability and Safety
• Tethering, Grooming and Record Keeping

As I didn't see anything about the "use of loopholes" in the Circus Federation of Australasia standards I looked at other links. Honestly, if I was an inspector, just looking at the castrated lion in the clip, under "behavior training"-- Animals must have sufficient skeleto-musculature development to meet training demands, would make him a real hard sell to me.

Additionally, "All training methods must be based on positive reinforcement (ie. the anticipation of a reward for successfully completing a desired behaviour). Negative reinforcement must never be used.

The reward for the successfully completing of a desired behaviour must be immediate and tangible.

Physical punishment is not permissible," would really make me question what I was seeing in the segment of the lion "act".

"Rattans (canes) and other rods may be used to push or guide an animal and may be struck against each other or an apparatus to provide a noise stimulus. They must not be used to strike an animal. The ends of these devices must always be blunt."

This sounds much like the "loud noises" that animals become "habituated" to as the research in the below link indicates. Then what do you do? Strike them against each other really really loud, as loud as you can. Do you strike an apparatus as hard as you can. That's all you can use "canes and other rods for." Apparently you can't even grind/whittle a point to put meat on?

Under