“Calling For An End to Wild Animal Performances”
In April 2005, ACRES launched a campaign urging the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari to end the use of wild animals in performance shows. Our concerns stemmed from both animal welfare and public safety—following a troubling incident where a visitor was injured by a serval during a show at the Night Safari.
We believe strongly that compelling wild animals to perform for entertainment compromises their well-being and does little to educate the public about their natural behaviours or conservation needs. Instead, such shows risk reinforcing outdated perceptions of animals as objects for human amusement.
During our observations of the Spirits of the Rainforest show at the Singapore Zoo, we documented an orang utan made to perform a series of unnatural, circus-style tricks—behaviours that bear little resemblance to how these intelligent beings would act in the wild.
ACRES continues to advocate for wildlife experiences rooted in respect, empathy, and genuine education—where animals are appreciated for who they are, not what they can be trained to do.
Why ACRES Opposes Animal Shows at the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
ACRES believes that wild animals should be treated with dignity and respect, not used as tools for entertainment. We called for an end to animal performances at the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari for the following reasons:
- Promotes the Wrong Message:
Watching animals perform unnatural, circus-style tricks sends a misleading and harmful message—especially to children. It teaches that animals exist for human amusement, rather than as sentient beings with their own needs and instincts. - Distorts Natural Behaviour:
These performances often present a false image of how animals behave in the wild, undermining meaningful education and awareness. - Raises Animal Welfare Concerns:
Training animals to perform repetitive routines may involve coercive methods, and performing the same acts daily does not constitute meaningful enrichment. Instead, it may contribute to stress, boredom, and compromised welfare. - Public Safety Risks:
Wild animals remain unpredictable. Bringing them into close proximity with audiences increases the risk of injury—something already demonstrated in past incidents.
ACRES continues to advocate for ethical, educational wildlife experiences that inspire compassion, understanding, and a deep respect for the natural world.
Advocating for an End to Wild Animal Performances in Captivity
In 2002, Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) took a progressive step by banning the use of wild animals performing in travelling circuses, citing growing concerns for public safety and animal welfare. Their statement highlighted a rise in incidents of injury and abuse involving wild animals, with some cases resulting in serious harm and even fatalities.
However, this ban did not extend to performances involving wild animals at captive facilities within Singapore. Following a 2005 incident in which a visitor was injured by a serval during a show at a Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) establishment, ACRES called for this same level of protection to be applied universally—including at local zoos and wildlife parks.
Raising Our Voice Through Advocacy and Collaboration
In response to the continued use of wild animals in performances at the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, ACRES:
- Formally wrote to the AVA, urging them to extend the performance ban to include all captive facilities.
- Appealed directly to WRS, encouraging them to lead by example and voluntarily end the use of wild animals in their shows.
- Launched an online petition, garnering strong support from both the local and international community.
- Engaged with the media, resulting in wide coverage of the issue and heartfelt letters from concerned members of the public.
During the Asia for Animals Conference in May 2005, a resolution was adopted by all delegates in support of ACRES’ call to end wild animal performances in all forms—including those at the Singapore Zoo and Dolphin Lagoon.
Offering a Humane Alternative
While standing firm in our opposition to the use of wild animals in shows, ACRES also proposed clear animal welfare guidelines to WRS in hopes of reaching a compassionate middle ground:
- Animals should only display natural, species-appropriate behaviours.
- Animals must be housed in enriched, naturalistic enclosures when not participating in shows.
- Each animal should perform no more than once every two days, to prevent routines from becoming monotonous and stressful.
- Only positive, non-coercive training methods should be used.
- Barriers must be installed to prevent direct contact between animals and the public at all times.
These recommendations were aligned with AVA’s own performance guidelines, which state that animals must not be forced to perform unnatural acts and must not pose a danger to the public.
A Step in the Right Direction
In May 2005, ACRES welcomed the Singapore Zoo’s decision to retire the long-running Spirits of the Rainforest show and introduce the new Wonders of the Wild show. We were heartened to find that many of the unnatural, circus-style tricks had been removed, particularly those involving the orang utan.
Instead of performing artificial stunts, the orang utan now engaged in more natural behaviours—such as swinging on ropes and peeling a coconut—providing a more authentic and respectful view of the species. Other animals featured in the show were also observed exhibiting predominantly natural behaviours.
While we recognise that more improvements can still be made, this shift marks a meaningful advancement for both animal welfare and public education.
Looking Ahead
Despite progress, ACRES remains concerned about the public safety risks posed by close contact with wild animals during performances and photography sessions. We continue to urge Wildlife Reserves Singapore to phase out all wild animal shows and move towards more ethical, educational, and non-exploitative forms of engagement with wildlife.
The use of sentient, intelligent animals in circus-style performances still persists in many zoos and theme parks across Asia. We hope the Singapore Zoo’s evolving approach will serve as a model—demonstrating that true respect for animals lies in observing them as they are, not as performers for our entertainment.
Let us work together to ensure that animal exploitation in the name of amusement becomes a thing of the past, replaced by compassion, understanding, and progress.