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Animal welfare groups criticise Brisbane Lions' plan to parade a lion on field Animal welfare groups criticise Brisbane Lions' plan to parade a lion on field
(8 months later)
Animal welfare advocates and fans have condemned the Brisbane Lions after the AFL team said it hoped to parade a live lion at home matches next season.Animal welfare advocates and fans have condemned the Brisbane Lions after the AFL team said it hoped to parade a live lion at home matches next season.
Greg Swann, Lions chief executive, said the club was in discussions with zoos to see if it was feasible to secure a lion for pre-match entertainment.Greg Swann, Lions chief executive, said the club was in discussions with zoos to see if it was feasible to secure a lion for pre-match entertainment.
“It’s for our fan experience, we think the kids would be absolutely beside themselves,” Swann told Melbourne radio station SEN. “One of the good things about being here is we control the stadium, so it’s fantastic. Whatever we want to do we can do.”“It’s for our fan experience, we think the kids would be absolutely beside themselves,” Swann told Melbourne radio station SEN. “One of the good things about being here is we control the stadium, so it’s fantastic. Whatever we want to do we can do.”
Swann said the AFL was supportive of the idea, adding that it would provide “greater supporter engagement and fan involvement”.Swann said the AFL was supportive of the idea, adding that it would provide “greater supporter engagement and fan involvement”.
Swann added the lion would be held captive, unlike the scenario that unfolded in 1979 when an elephant ran amok during a stunt at North Melbourne’s Arden Street ground – an event quickly recalled on Twitter.Swann added the lion would be held captive, unlike the scenario that unfolded in 1979 when an elephant ran amok during a stunt at North Melbourne’s Arden Street ground – an event quickly recalled on Twitter.
I went to the animal fair, I went to the animal fair, The birds and the beasts were there pic.twitter.com/brV150ysQu
The birds and the beasts were there pic.twitter.com/brV150ysQu
Gillon McLachlan, the chief executive of the AFL, said the idea was “pushing the envelope”.Gillon McLachlan, the chief executive of the AFL, said the idea was “pushing the envelope”.
“It’s a provocative idea that has lots of different angles,” he said. “But I love the fact that lots of different clubs are thinking like this about what their experience is.”“It’s a provocative idea that has lots of different angles,” he said. “But I love the fact that lots of different clubs are thinking like this about what their experience is.”
Steele Tallon, Brisbane Lions’ communications chief, tweeted that the idea was “just a discussion point at the moment.” He added: “In relation to animal rights, we would never do anything to harm a lion. Australia Zoo is one of our partners & match day sponsor this year.”Steele Tallon, Brisbane Lions’ communications chief, tweeted that the idea was “just a discussion point at the moment.” He added: “In relation to animal rights, we would never do anything to harm a lion. Australia Zoo is one of our partners & match day sponsor this year.”
However, animal welfare groups have reacted with dismay at the idea of parading a lion around the club’s Gabba stadium, which has capacity for 42,000 people.However, animal welfare groups have reacted with dismay at the idea of parading a lion around the club’s Gabba stadium, which has capacity for 42,000 people.
“I really hope that this is a PR stunt,” Michael Beatty, the RSPCA’s Queensland spokesman, told Guardian Australia. “If they are considering it in any form, we would be very much against it and do everything in our power to stop it.“I really hope that this is a PR stunt,” Michael Beatty, the RSPCA’s Queensland spokesman, told Guardian Australia. “If they are considering it in any form, we would be very much against it and do everything in our power to stop it.
“It would be very, very stressful for the lion and unfortunately at large events such as that, there are always idiots who will throw something or try to take the lion on. There are too many variables. We have moved on from the days of the Roman arenas, frankly.”“It would be very, very stressful for the lion and unfortunately at large events such as that, there are always idiots who will throw something or try to take the lion on. There are too many variables. We have moved on from the days of the Roman arenas, frankly.”
Beatty said he hoped the state government would intervene if the club attempted to introduce the feared predator into a packed stadium.Beatty said he hoped the state government would intervene if the club attempted to introduce the feared predator into a packed stadium.
Michael Kennedy, campaign director at Humane Society International (HSI), said: “It would be totally inappropriate and dangerous behaviour. I can’t imagine any zoo agreeing to loan a lion, nor a Queensland government department being happy with such an arrangement. HSI would certainly oppose this move.”Michael Kennedy, campaign director at Humane Society International (HSI), said: “It would be totally inappropriate and dangerous behaviour. I can’t imagine any zoo agreeing to loan a lion, nor a Queensland government department being happy with such an arrangement. HSI would certainly oppose this move.”
A change.org petition asking the Lions to drop the plan quickly attracted more than 1,000 supporters.A change.org petition asking the Lions to drop the plan quickly attracted more than 1,000 supporters.
Its instigator, Jordan Lees, said: ”A lion does not belong on a football field. There are many alternative methods of entertainment that Brisbane Lions may employ to attract more fans to the games. Perhaps winning more games would be a good place to start. The cruel and unnecessary exploitation of a wild animal is not, and should not, be one of these methods.”Its instigator, Jordan Lees, said: ”A lion does not belong on a football field. There are many alternative methods of entertainment that Brisbane Lions may employ to attract more fans to the games. Perhaps winning more games would be a good place to start. The cruel and unnecessary exploitation of a wild animal is not, and should not, be one of these methods.”