Animal for Hire?!

Looking for that extra something to make your party memorable? Wellington Zoo is hiring out its cheetahs for functions and events.

Some animal experts are appalled at the practice, and say it is unfair on the animals and puts people at risk. Others say it provides valuable stimulation for the creatures.

For $2500, keepers will bring the zoo's two juvenile cheetahs, Charlie and Delta, to an event, where guests can pat them and talk to their trainers. The zoo has been running the scheme since late last year and so far the cheetahs have been to private functions, a pet store opening, university lectures, and an A&P show.

"We do it because we believe it's one of the strongest ways we can get a conservation message across," said zoo spokeswoman Amy Hughes.

Animal advocacy group Safe is dismayed at the visits, and likens them to the chimpanzee tea parties, which were criticised towards the end of the 1960s for demeaning the animals.
"To use these magnificent animals as cheap revenue earners is abhorrent and needlessly endangers lives if anything causes these animals to attack while attending a party," said Safe campaign director Hans Kriek.

"Most zoos no longer use animals as circus acts but for Wellington Zoo, it appears, making money is more important."

Neither Auckland Zoo nor Orana Park in Christchurch rent out their big cats, and say they do not have animals tame enough for such an encounter. Insiders say the only other big cats available for functions are from Northland's "Lion Man" Craig Busch.

In 2004, Auckland property developer Andrew Krukziener had two young male lions greet guests at his wedding -reputedly at a cost of $10,000. Wellington Zoo insists the animals' welfare is the priority.

"If we ever thought they were upset or it stressed them out, we'd stop doing it," said Hughes.
The cheetahs, which were born and hand-raised in South Africa, have daily human contact. The zoo also sells encounters with the animals, where the public can meet and pet them in a special enclosure for $195.

Hughes said the cheetahs' behaviour indicated they enjoyed the off-site visits. She said the trips were regulated and required Maf approval. They last up to 90 minutes but the cats were removed at any sign of tension. No smoking is allowed, music must be at low levels, and any visit is restricted to the first 45 minutes of any function involving alcohol.

Massey University animal behaviour expert Associate Professor Kevin Stafford said cheetahs had a long history of being tamed. "They seem to handle interactions with humans and with large crowds extremely well. There are very few wild animals you could safely do that with."

He said the off-site experience would offer the animals stimulation and get them out of their cages. "It looks all right and safe, and it's probably doing cheetahs worldwide some good in a sense that it's exposing people to a glorious animal they otherwise might not be exposed to."

Massey University animal psychologist Arnold Chamove agreed the experience was probably not stressful for the animals, but questioned whether it was safe. The animals had no control, they could not move away, and if alarmed, they would attack. "I'll tell you one thing. I wouldn't go within striking distance of a cheetah, would you?"