Statement on Animal Welfare
DunnART has some unusual co-stars! We're working closely with wildlife biologists to make the comfort, safety, and enjoyment of our animal buddies our top priority. This means sometimes our performances might be a little different. Some days, our animal co-stars might get a little stage fright, or not be up for meeting audiences after the show, and that's okay. Our human performers are trained animal-handers and improvising pros -- who also respect that animals have their own wants and needs. We listen to those, very closely. That's also part of getting to know Australia's indigenous animals: sometimes in the wild, they don't want to be seen either.
Our animal co-stars come from registered conservation reserves. They have all been captive bred, and live around people from a young age. They are not rescued or taken from the wild. This reduces any stress to the animals, as wild animals are completely different.
The animals we work with are treated like family. They are not used for entertainment, but education -- even in Bettongs & Buddies! kids' theatre.
Raising awareness about Australian animals is all too important as the issues we are facing with species becoming endangered, and habitat loss is too common. We feel it is crucial the next generation learn what an antechinus is — or a phascogale — before it is too late to save species from extinction. We all know about lions and pandas, but not many Australians even know what used to live in their own backyard 100 years ago.
Our animal co-stars come from registered conservation reserves. They have all been captive bred, and live around people from a young age. They are not rescued or taken from the wild. This reduces any stress to the animals, as wild animals are completely different.
The animals we work with are treated like family. They are not used for entertainment, but education -- even in Bettongs & Buddies! kids' theatre.
Raising awareness about Australian animals is all too important as the issues we are facing with species becoming endangered, and habitat loss is too common. We feel it is crucial the next generation learn what an antechinus is — or a phascogale — before it is too late to save species from extinction. We all know about lions and pandas, but not many Australians even know what used to live in their own backyard 100 years ago.
