LENNON Bros Circus was in the news last week when Livvy, one of its monkeys, had a brief taste of freedom.
She escaped and took to a tree at Arncliffe before quietly returning after food was offered.
Her adventure prompted a letter from Dr Rosemary Elliott, secretary of Sentient, the Veterinary Institute for Animal Ethics.
"Wild animals kept in circuses are exposed to inhumane training methods, cramped, isolated living conditions and are unable to perform many natural behaviours. Why are we allowing these anachronistic shows to continue?" she wrote.
Georgie Lennon, sixth generation in the Lennon Bros dynasty, is ring mistress, high trapeze artist and media liaison officer.
She has heard the debate before and invited Fairfax Media to see the circus-bred animals.
"Our animals are on display throughout the day," Ms Lennon said.
"Come and see how well cared for they are. Watch the performance and you can see what methods we use to train them. These animals are a part of our family. Our exhibits [enclosures] are sometimes double the size of exhibited-animals' regulations; they are not cramped, they are comfortable.
"If they weren't happy, they wouldn't perform.
"None of them have stressed behaviour . . . people have that prejudice about [what] animal liberationists print up in their flyers.
"Ninety per cent of the stuff in their flyers is photos from the 1960s or overseas."
Lion trainer (not tamer) Mohammed Jratlou said his animals were well treated.
"We treat them with respect; a lion will always be a lion," he said. "They are wild animals."
Asked if they were ever punished, he added: "How can I punish this animal? He will punish you before you punish him. I don't have a whip. In the '60s it was different."
The lions in the show walk from one pedestal across a plank and backwards.
Kiara, a lioness, jumps up on the plank.
Maizey, another lioness, "smiles" to everyone and Kovu (the male) roars loudly.
"Livvy the monkey's companion, Bubbles, rides on the pony, looks pretty, does a wave then comes outside," Ms Lennon said.
The use of animals in circuses in NSW is regulated under the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986, administered by the Department of Primary Industries.
The act covers animal housing, transport, performance and training, animal dignity and public safety.
If anyone sees something they think is cruel, then the RSPCA can carry out an inspection.
Lennon Bros says staff hasn't had a visit from the RSPCA for five years.
It is up to councils to decide if they want a circus with animals to use their land.
Dr Elliott said: "These animals can develop a range of behavioural problems. They seem to be going on along all right then suddenly it's in the paper that the lion has attacked the handler or a monkey has escaped and bitten someone.
"They haven't had years of domestication like dogs or horses.
"The issue is the confinement."
Ms Lennon said: "I dread the day if people decide that they don't want circuses with animals; it's traditional circus. The animals are integral and for children to miss out on that would be a sad day."
Do you think it would be a sad day if there were no animals in circuses?
