World Animal Protection calls for end to “cruel” theme park koala cuddle tourist photos
A key animal rights group is calling on Gold Coast theme parks to stop selling koala cuddles – banned in most other states – describing the practice as “cruel”. Here’s their response.
Business
Don't miss out on the headlines from Business. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A global animal rights group is calling on Gold Coast theme parks to stop offering koala cuddles, banned in most other states, describing the practice as “cruel”.
The call came after Dreamworld, announcing a $50m investment in new rides and attractions, said it would phase out direct contact between tigers and handlers in the next 12-18 months.
Ben Pearson, country director for Australia and New Zealand at World Animal Protection, welcomed Dreamworld’s decision.
“The announcement is a recognition of changing community sentiment about wild animals in captivity, and we commend Dreamworld for responding to it,” he said.
“We will continue our engagement with Dreamworld and advocate that they phase out other attractions such as koala cuddles.”
Mr Pearson said the practice was out of step with Dreamworld’s conservation efforts.
“Koalas are wild animals and are not adapted to close contact with humans, with studies telling us that they become stressed when even in proximity to humans,” he said.
“Forced visitor interactions with an animal like a koala simply adds a layer of cruelty to their life of captivity.”
Koala cuddling has long been a lucrative drawcard, particularly for international visitors with a koala hug on their bucket list.
Just three parks in South Australia and a single koala park in Western Australia offer the chance for guests to touch koalas, while there are at least eight parks that allow the practice in Queensland – three of which are on the Gold Coast.
In New South Wales, where cuddling a koala was banned more than 25 years ago, parks offer guests photos standing alongside a koala in its enclosure, and they are not allowed to touch them.
In Victoria, guests are allowed to pat koalas while standing next to them for a photo, but may not hold them.
Environment Minister Mark Furner said Queensland had no plans to follow suit.
“Queensland is not considering a ban on cuddling koalas at major tourist attractions like Dreamworld,” he said.
“The Exhibited Animals Act puts in place stringent requirements to ensure animal welfare.”
Dreamworld, which charges $24.95 per person for a koala cuddle and photo, did not answer a question about whether it planned to change its koala encounter practices.
“The animal care team use their decades of experience to interpret and respond to individual animal behaviour, focusing on enrichment, as well as conditioning that results in improved quality of life and veterinary care with reduced stress for the animals,” the park said in a statement.
“Dreamworld is open to continued consultation with World Animal Protection and is committed to following the Zoological and Aquarium Association’s (ZAA) welfare framework
model and committing to providing the best possible care for the welfare of the animals in
their care.”
Paradise Country, which is operated by Village Roadshow Theme Parks, also declined to say whether it was planning to change the way it handled the animals.
“The health and wellbeing of the animals in our care is the utmost priority for Village Roadshow Theme Parks,” Village said in a statement.
“All animal and visitor interactions are undertaken to industry best standards and with the welfare of the animals at the forefront.
“We have an experienced animal care team who provide exemplary training, conditioning and enrichment programs to ensure the highest quality of life for the animals who reside with us.
“With koalas listed as endangered at the start of the year, zoos and wildlife organisations play an integral role in wildlife conservation efforts and educating the public of the threats facing our native animals and how they can help.”
Both theme park groups have contributed millions of dollars to conservation projects globally.
Mr Pearson is unconvinced.
“Exploiting wild animals for profit through forced visitor interactions, such as using a koala as a photo prop, is reflective of our broken relationship with animals and the natural world,” he said.
“Wild animals are not an endless resource for profit driven venues to commodify and exploit. “And while a few venues do some genuine conservation work, this is out of step with their current business model.”
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary did not respond to the Gold Coast Bulletin’s inquiries.
‘Not viable’: Hundreds of towers going back to the drawing board
Developers will go back to the drawing board on hundreds of Gold Coast towers approved in the past decade – with many expected to get substantially taller. FIND OUT MORE
Veteran restaurateur’s three companies in liquidation
Three companies behind well-known Gold Coast restaurants are in liquidation with hefty debts – but two of the venues have stayed open under the same ownership.