Animal activists target Brisbane Christmas parade

Protesters have targeted Brisbane City’s annual Christmas parade in an attempt to stop a tradition they say is “cruel”.

FAMILIES attending Brisbane’s annual Christmas Parade on Sunday night have found themselves in the middle of an angry protest.

Animal activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) were in the city to condemn Brisbane City Council for continuing to use live deer in their Christmas events.

Protesters shouted “Deer don’t belong here” as families moved around the city centre to take in the Christmas festivities.

Animal activists protest Brisbane's annual Christmas parade.

PETA spokeswoman Emily Rice last week said that following a decision by David Jones to stop using live deer in their Christmas displays, the organisation had asked council to do the same.

“Animals are living, feeling individuals, not props,” she said.

Ms Rice urged Brisbane Marketing, which operates BCC’s Christmas events, to be both more “compassionate” and “creative” when it comes to planning the Christmas parade.

“Brisbane City Council could employ consenting adults to dress up in costume, rather than forcing animals who do not have a choice, denying them of everything that’s natural and important to them,” Ms Rice said.

Animal activists protest Brisbane's annual Christmas parade.

“There are absolutely no benefits to using a live animal as a Christmas decoration in fact, feedback from many Brisbanites has been that seeing animals bored and used as props detracts from the spirit of the season for them and their kids.”

A Brisbane Marketing spokesperson said the 2019 Brisbane Christmas program would see the return of the “much-loved Santa’s Stable, a special chance for families to take selfies with Santa’s deer”.

Ava Meier with a red deer at Reddacliff Place in Brisbane as part of annual Christmas celebrations. Picture: AAP Image/Josh Woning

“Santa’s Stable will take place for an hour from 5.30pm each evening from 13-22 December at Reddacliff Place and feature two Australian red deer,” the spokesperson said.

“Families love seeing Santa’s deer and this year there will be more to see and do with the opportunity to get happy snaps as one of the highlights of the Christmas program.”