Animal rights activists vow to continue vigil for “exploited deer”

Activists who took to King George Square last night to protest the use of deer in the city’s Christmas events have vowed to keep fighting for the animals’ freedom.

Animal rights activists will return to the Brisbane CBD tonight to protest the use of animals in the city’s Christmas events.

Brisbane activist 32-year-old Angela (who did not give her surname) was arrested last night but vowed to continue the “fight against animal exploitation” until “Council bans all forms of animal entertainment”.

“Council is not being honest with people about this issue,” she said.

“The deer are not happy. They don’t look happy. They look dejected and hopeless and to watch them try and eat the fake grass … it breaks my heart.”

“If people could just see it from the deer’s perspective. A lot of people understand once they think about it that way.”

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Brisbane nurse 32-year-old Angela was arrested at last night’s protest. Photo. Jonathan Brazil

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Angela said a lot of people associated Christmas with deer and “half the problem is you can’t mess with Christmas and Council is selling the deer as Christmas.”

“They are telling parents it is okay to exploit animals and then the parents are telling their kids it’s okay.”

She said there “are so many other ways to celebrate Christmas”.

“There is the parade and the lights and fireworks and carols and people don’t come into the city and fight the crowds to see two deer. I am sure if they weren’t here the crowd would still be here.”

“It is nonsensical to think that is the reason Council is not acting. Council are out of touch.”

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said last month the “much-loved Santa’s Stable will return to Reddacliff Place with a special chance for families to take selfies with Santa’s reindeer Rocky and Radar”.

Police and fire officers assisted a 32-year-old protester to come down from the entrance to King George Square busway station. Photo. Jonathan Brazil.

Angela was arrested after climbing on to the entrance of King George Square.

She said police asked if she was willing to come down “and I said I’ll come down”.

She was charged with unregulated high risk behaviour and given a notice to appear.

“It’s for a good cause,” she said of her arrest.

“This is one of the things I am willing to be arrested for.”

“I was uncomfortable and detained for half an hour whereas Council is letting the deer suffer in metal trailers and stand in record breaking heat … so I am willing to go through being arrested to stop that from happening.”