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'End of an era': Australia's last lion trainer shrugs off circus controversy

Australia only has one big top lion trainer, and he could be our last.

The circus industry has been affected by criticism from animal rights activists like PETA, changing audience habits, and a parliamentary inquiry and exotic animals could soon be retired from the big top.

Animal trainer Matthew Ezekiel, 39, hopes to continue performing long enough so his children build memories of his work at Stardust Circus.

“My youngest is two and I’m hoping she’ll remember it before we retire them,” he told Yahoo News Australia.

“We retired our elephants just before my kids were born so they never got to see that which was pretty upsetting.

“It’s pretty sad - it’s the end of an era.”

Unless his son decides to take on the job when he grows up, the profession will die with Mr Ezekiel.

Stardust lion tamer Matthew Ezekiel pictured with the big cats. Source: Matthew Ezekiel
Matthew Ezekiel says it is sad that circus lion taming may disappear when he retires. Source: Matthew Ezekiel

Stardust continuing century-old circus tradition

Stardust was established in the 1990s by the Lennon and West families, who can trace their circus lineage back to the nineteenth century.

Circus matriarch Jan Lennon, 75, is semi-retired, but she still prepares food for the lions, which have been bred in Australia by the Lennon family for generations.

“We bottle fed them, they lived in the caravan for the first few months,” she said.

“They’re like part of the family.”

“The lions here have a semi-trailer and a great big outside enclosure and their trailer has reverse cycle air conditioning.

“They get the best of everything here.”

Matthew Ezekiel pictured playing with his Stardust lions. Source: Matthew Ezekiel
Matthew Ezekiel playing with his lions. Source: Matthew Ezekiel
Matthew Ezekiel, pictured, is confident working with five lions at a time. Source: Matthew Ezekiel
Jan Lennon says her son-in-law Matthew Ezekiel is confident working with five lions at a time. Source: Matthew Ezekiel

Lion trainer grateful killing machines don’t turn on him

After joining the circus at 17, Mr Ezekiel began working with the lions after his brother-in-law jokingly asked him if he could step in while he was on holiday.

He didn’t hesitate – he’d grown up on a farm and knew the key to working with animals was patience.

“They’re cats so they don’t learn things quickly – they can be stubborn, so you’ve just got to figure out what works for each lion,” he said.

“Some of the lions like to jump, they’re a bit more energetic so they need to do the jumping stuff, other lions are not energetic so they’re the ones that do the comedy stuff.

“They’re just like any other cat really – a flick of the tail, the ears back, the eyes – where they’re looking at, what they’re focusing on, growling, a lot of little signs that you learn to pick up on over time.

“It’s pretty cool – 200kg of pure muscle and killing ability – and they choose not to kill me.”

In one trick, Mr Ezekiel places a piece of meat on a spike between his teeth and has a lion take it from him.

“When I was teaching him, I had to tell myself not to pull back because if you do pull back then he can snatch and that’s not fun,” he said.

“You’ve got to go against everything your brain is telling you to do and resist.

“If you pull back, you get banged in the face with some teeth.

“Then we try it again.”

Animal activists to protest at Stardust circus

While Stardust told Yahoo News Australia it has never been convicted of an animal cruelty offence, activist groups would like to see lions living a natural lifestyle.

Last month, a parliamentary inquiry into exotic animals in performance was welcomed by Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst who called it “long overdue”.

Wollongong Animal Save and Animal Justice Party are planning to continue the pressure on Stardust with a demonstration outside the circus this Saturday.

Protest organiser Julie Power said in a statement that the community has no tolerance for “animal cruelty”.

“Paying to see a circus who exploits animals is paying for animal torture,” she said.

A circus picture showing Matthew Ezekiel performing with one of his lions. Source: Stardust
Matthew Ezekiel performs with one of his lions. Source: Stardust

PETA spokesperson Emily Rice told Yahoo News Australia that circuses are about making money, not animal welfare

“You don't have to be a veterinarian to understand that lions suffer when they're carted across the country and forced to perform for human amusement,” she said.

“Most people agree that it's unacceptable for big cats to be deprived of everything that's natural and important to them, such as exercise, roaming and playing, and confined to barren enclosures – in which they must eat, drink, sleep, defecate, and urinate in the same small space – just so that a dwindling number of spectators can watch them perform ridiculous and often painful tricks.”

As a self-described man of few words, Mr Ezekiel said he tries not to enter into a debate with animal activists.

“For a while I would offer to take them around the animals, show them whatever they wanted, answer any questions,” he said.

“One in 10 would take up the offer.

“[Now] I stay away from it – actions speak louder than words.”

‘Lions will miss the excitement of the circus’

Mr Ezekiel believes the lions know he’s not one of them, but accept him as a member of the pride.

“I’d probably say I’m part of the family but somewhere not near the top so I don’t get into the arguments with them because they fight over the females in mating season,” he said.

“But occasionally they do involve me, but most of the time I can stay out of the way and they’re happy to leave me alone.’

Matthew Ezekiel playing with his lions at Stardust circus. Source: Matthew Ezekiel
Australia's last lion trainer says the pride are part of his family. Source: Matthew Ezekiel

When the circus’s final pride of lions one day retires, Mr Ezekiel believes the big cats will miss the sights and sounds of the travelling life.

“It’s a much more enjoyable life for them.

“A retirement home is just like a zoo – just one spot – no interaction really.

“They get the stimulation of all the different sights and sounds in each town, different grass, different trees, branches, logs, whatever we can find, play soccer with them.

“And then they get the people walking past with their dogs and stuff so that’s more stimulation again.”

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