A NIGHTMARE before Christmas, for the Reindeer. Christmas events, such as this, are anything but "merry" for reindeer. Isn't the Christmas season a time for empathy and kindness?? (all year round, in fact) - not for transporting sensitive, live creatures around, to crowds of humans, for financial profit, in the name of "entertainment".

Creating Christmas memories for your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, should not include traumatizing animals - which is exactly what this will do. "Caister Wonderland" are proud to say they're using these animals. Many people might not realise, that events such as these will attract a crowd of often noisy, excitable people, which cause great distress to these animals. Such "entertainment" keeps the deer, surrounded by people, with nowhere to retreat, during the time they're on "display". Caister Wonderland have already stated that children can feed them "for free": people, in their faces, demanding near-constant interaction. This in turn severely impacts their health and welfare. 

Over recent years, Cities, Towns, Villages, small events, larger events have shown compassion and ceased to ever use live animals at their events, ever again.... Including London, Manchester ect. Why is it that Caister-on-Sea are so proud to profit out of cruelty?

They are often subjected to extensive traveling, up and down the Country. Where they are then used as entertainment, cooped up in pens. Behind the scenes, too, penned in, unnaturally, causing distress and stress.

Eventgoers are, by token of the whole set-up, an harassment for these animals.  Even if not able to freely reach them, with poking and unwanted touching, being treated as inanimate objects. It's speciesism. It's unempathetic. It is wrong. 

What gives us humans the right? 

Dr. Aidan Foster, an expert veterinary authority on reindeer, has stated that “Reindeer are highly specialised Arctic deer. The recent fashion of keeping them in a captive situation many degrees south of their normal range is fraught with health and welfare issues.”

Over the course of 2018 national campaigning group Animal Aid extensively researched and investigated what happens when reindeer are ‘off duty’ on farms. The below is a brief synopsis of its findings: 

- Reindeer suffering from extensive fur loss with raw-looking exposed skin.

- Animals with heavy diarrhoea.

- Some reindeer crowded into night pens or sheds.

- Animals stuck out on a concrete yard with no opportunity to graze.

- Poor bodily condition, some with obvious skeletal issues.

- Deliberate abuse including workers kicking and shouting at reindeer.

Government figures requested by Animal Aid show that from 2014 to 2017, a total of 571 reindeer were imported into the UK, from places such as Sweden, Finland and Norway. For the same period, 54 reindeer carcasses were submitted to the Animal Plant Health Agency for post-mortem diagnostic investigation. Their findings reveal that animals seem to have died from a range of generalized issues including parasitic, gastric and digestive issues, malnutrition, wasting and nervous conditions.

Simon Cowell, CEO of The Wildlife Aid Foundation, says: “Animals should no longer be used as objects of entertainment. It is cruel and demeaning. Now it is time to stop the barbaric practice of using animals in Christmas events. Local authorities and management companies have a responsibility to educate and to be at the forefront of animal welfare best practice”.

PLEASE be a voice for the VOICELESS. Please sign this petition and urge Caister-on-Sea's Christmas Caister Wonderland to rethink their plans, and use cruelty free alternatives to live animals on December 3rd on King George V Playing Field, Allendale Road.