Stardust Circus trainer Matt Huckleberry has worked with lions for more than 20 years. He is the only trainer of his kind in Australia. The lions at the Stardust Circus are the 19^th generation bred in captivity and are set to be the last.

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Matt said patience was the trick when training lions. "We use a reward based system like you'd train a dog or a cat," he said. "I play with them twice a day but that is only if they want to, they sleep a lot.

"Each lion has its own personality - they have their good days and bad days - they'll usually let you know their mood."

The self-proclaimed animal lover said the big cats were part of the family. "It's important to respect each other," he said.

Matt said that during his career he had seen the industry change for the better. "Circuses have evolved immensely since 30 years ago," he said. "We've changed the act to show the bond between myself and the lions."

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Ringmaster Adam St James has also seen things change under the big top during the past 25 years. This includes the use of outdoor enclosures and the banishment of fire and whips. Adam said he continued to defend the industry because it had done nothing wrong. "We are doing everything we can for these animals to make sure they have a happy life," he said. "We are a regulated industry and Australia has the strictest circus regulations of any country around the world."

The ringmaster said the animals couldn't be released into the wild as they were accustomed to human care. "They enjoy performing," he said.

Adam said the maximum amount of time the animals were in their travelling enclosure was two hours. "Their enclosure is air-conditioned. They are probably far better looked after than some people's pets at home." The lions are required to have a veterinary check up every three to six months as part of the licence to keep them. The circus undertook stress testing of the animals and no stress levels were detected in the lions.

Adam said there had been years of dedication and experience invested into looking after the animals. "If we did half the things we are accused of we wouldn't be in operation today," he said. "We give them the best we can."

Highlanders will have the chance to see the lions for themselves at Stardust Circus from October 18 to 27. The ringmaster has even welcomed inquiries from people who would like to know more about the animals. Tickets: stardustcircus.com.au

NB: An earlier version suggested the stress testing was undertaken by Taronga Zoo. The Stardust Circus had no affiliation with Taronga Zoo in regards to stress testing as previously mentioned by Adam St James in the article.

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