Victory! The LA County Fair Announces Major Win for Wild and Exotic Animals

After meeting with PETA, organizers of the LA County Fair—which has in years past displayed a giraffe, monkeys, kangaroos, camels, and other exotic animals—have agreed not to include any wild and exotic (and easily frightened) mammals this year.

This victory is a major win for wild and exotic animals. In a meeting with fair organizers, a PETA Foundation veterinarian who visited last year’s LA County Fair shared her findings that wild and exotic animals were confined to inadequate enclosures, where they were unable to escape from the public and excessive noise. Numerous animals exhibited behavior that indicated psychological distress, including a camel who swayed back and forth incessantly.

After learning from PETA how exotic animals suffer at crowded, noisy fairs, the LA County Fair was eager to welcome this year’s visitors to a new kind of event, and we commend organizers for their progressive thinking.

Today’s public doesn’t want to see animals like camels pacing endlessly in a barren pen, and the LA County Fair’s compassionate decision sets a respectful standard.

Wild animals used for fairs are often taken away from their mothers as babies, locked in cages or shackled with chains, and carted around to different cities in order to be forced to perform or give rides or to be gawked at by strangers. They may lash out in frustration and have been involved in human injuries and deaths as well as property damage.

Wild animals are still being exploited at other fairs. But together, we can help them.

This victory is a huge step in the right direction, but wild and exotic animals around the world still desperately need our help. In just seconds, you can urge numerous fair organizers to do the right thing by leaving wild animals out of future events. Click below to help:

Always choose animal-free events. Step right up to one of these compassionate options.