Last Exit asks circus not to use lions in its Dubai shows

Dubai food stop Last Exit D89 has asked a travelling circus to remove lions from its shows after a backlash from residents.

The Latino Circus, which features “white lions direct from Africa”, is stationed at the site Al Khawaneej until December 21.

Last Exit, which is owned and operated by Meraas, has faced a barrage of complaints from people unhappy with the use of wild animals.

Eventoh Em, the company running the circus, and Platinumlist.net, which sells tickets for the event, have also faced sharp criticism.

Last Exit told The National that it had asked the circus to remove the lions.

“Our communities are at the core of what we do at Last Exit,” it said. “The animal acts in the circus at Last Exit Al Khawaneej have upset some members of our community.

“We care about and share their sentiments and have requested the operators of the Latino Circus to exclude all animal acts.”

Eventoh Em did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Samantha Robins, who posted about the circus on several Facebook groups to alert people about the use of wild animals, said she was grateful to Last Exit but was concerned that the lions might be confined to their cages until the troupe moved on.

On Last Exit Dubai’s Facebook page, Casey McCoy Cainan, who appears to be a lion tamer with the circus, said the circus had no plans to comply with the request.

“The property management has asked us to take the animals out of the show, which we have not and don’t plan to,” Mr Cainan wrote.

He also appealed for positive reviews to counter the criticism the troupe has received in recent days.