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Animal protection group urge residents to boycott controversial circus

2:44pm Tuesday 6th October 2009 in News

AN animal protection charity has called on the public to boycott a controversial animal circus that is appearing in Orsett this week.

According to Captive Animals’ Protection Society (CAPS), the Great British Circus is the only circus to use lions and tigers.

CAPS say that animals should not be used in the circus.

The circus imported three elephants from Germany earlier this year.

Secret footage of a groom mistreating an elephant was filmed at the Great British Circus by another animal campaign group, Animal Defenders International.

The footage taken was recorded by undercover cameras in the elephant’s stable area.

Spokesperson for the circus, Chris Barltrop, said: “We believe if ADI were motivated by real concerns about animal welfare, it would have immediately made the video available to authorities and to circus management, rather the placing it in the public domain months later.

“To date, this material has not been provided directly to the Great British Circus.”

The circus have said they are conducting a "thorough investigation" and are looking at the possibility of installing CCTV.

Craig Redmond, campaigns director for CAPS, said: “It’s now time for the government to take action to end the use of animals in circus.

“The public recognise how inappropriate it is to transport animals all over the country for most of the year, chain or cage them and make them perform for our entertainment and they have long backed our campaign for a ban.”

Mr Redmond explained to the Gazette how he believed that circuses need to move into the future.

He said: “They can be great entertainment without animals, there are great all human shows around. Most people will realise that this is unacceptable.

“Using animals is from a bygone age, most compassionate and right thinking people will think it is wrong.”

The Great British Circus said that they were always getting compliments from people on how the animals look.

Mr Barltrop, said: “ The circus people care about the animals. I can only ask that before people make a judgement that they come and look at both sides of the argument.

The show does go on at the Orsett showground, until Sunday, October 18.

For more information about the circus go online to www.greatbritishcircus.co.uk.

For more information about the Captive Animals’ Protection Society visit www.captiveanimals.org.

Comments(10)

old man of grays says...
3:04pm Tue 6 Oct 09

Craig Redman is a sad pastard, he has nothing better to do, he reminds me of the doughnuts who released mink into the wild as it was unfair keeping them caged, they went on to totally devast the wildlife of Britain, and are now shot on sight. So Criag Redman, go get a life you sad plonker.

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old man of grays says...
3:04pm Tue 6 Oct 09

Craig Redman is a sad pastard, he has nothing better to do, he reminds me of the doughnuts who released mink into the wild as it was unfair keeping them caged, they went on to totally devast the wildlife of Britain, and are now shot on sight. So Criag Redman, go get a life you sad plonker.

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Catherine Ryal says...
4:30pm Tue 6 Oct 09

If Craig REDMOND is sad in any way at all it is probably because of the continuing systematic abuse of performing animals at this appalling circus.

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pa says...
5:08pm Tue 6 Oct 09

Circus's have no role in the conservation of animals and are an era that has probably had its day unless they do change to not using animals as part of their shows. Although there's no way these animals could be released into the wild, surely it would be better if they were to be re-homed at a wildlife park. They can still be viewed by the public and probably at not much greater cost to them.

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Baphomet says...
8:07am Wed 7 Oct 09

I wonder if the Lions & Tigers respect Craig for his continued support, they might spare a thought for him after they have eaten him?

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Adrian Corti says...
2:06pm Wed 7 Oct 09

Well I am sorry to say that Craig Redmond is from a vociferous minority, and people are finaly seeing what these do gooders are all about! He is milking the circus (a soft target compared to things like horse racing etc) for every penny his so called charity can make!(look online where their expenses go!). The reality is that there are now more animal circuses in the UK than there has been for years, this is for one reason, because the public wish to see these beautiful animals! All UK animal circuses are reporting bumper seasons, with record numbers of happy customers. Animals in the circus are very expensive, with food, vets bills, transport, full time grooms etc. Yes it would be easier and cheaper for circuses to have no animals, but they chose to have them because they love animals & they are part of the family! Circuses with animals have changed immensly over the last decades, a good thing ofcourse, and are under constant scrutiny, and can't hide anything. For the few demonstrators outside a Big Top, compare this to the thousands of people every week that do go and see the circuses, because they want to! The government's DEFRA report into animals in the circus in the Uk from a year back did not think it was neccessary to ban them, much to the anger of animal rights groups, who are now resortingto dirty tactics! If they had their ways, there would be no pets, no guide dogs, no horse racing, no police horses, no fishing, compulsary vegitarianism, and no human contact with animals!!
Before you beleive all you read or hear from these groups, see for yourselves how the animals are, and how they are treated, the truth! Animal rights groups are now alledgedly trying to get the Labour government to ban animals in circuses, by giving large donations to them! Outragous. Please use your own minds, and do not be bullied by these vociferous minority, and support circuses with animals, the stuff of childhood memories! thankyou!

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Catherine Ryal says...
6:46pm Wed 7 Oct 09

Just a little response to Adrian Corti. Your facts seem a bit dubious to me! Where are you getting your information from? I won't bang on too much, but a couple of things -

There are not more animal circuses touring in the UK (5 this year compared to 7 previously).

I dispute 'bumper seasons'.

Logically, of course circuses can and do hide unsavoury practices - their transient nature and a complete lack of laws and regulations specifically covering circus animals make this very possible.

As for the DEFRA report - I could go on forever, but I'll just say that the whole process was deeply flawed and the wishy-washy judgement, which was inconclusive, made the entire thing a very expensive waste of time.

I do agree that people should make up their own minds, but at least give it a bit of thought, find out a bit about the subject and make an informed decision. The protesters standing outside the big top do have jobs and they do have other things they could be doing on a sunday afternoon but they are there for a reason.

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SaveOurStanford says...
6:47pm Wed 7 Oct 09

My Experiance off the this circus some 4 years ago when i can afford it was not good! The Ground sodden Muddy, The Refreshments was Awfull, The RingMaster was a Right Moaning B+st+rd . The Animals Seemed Ok But we was forced to sit so far away in a draughty dark corner (cheaper seats)
Take 1 Piece of advice DONT TRY to take any pictures or you risk a BIG boot up the bum and a lot of abuse.
We Witnessed a family Humilitated and crying the show was allmost cancelled and no refund !!! Honestly !!!

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jojo221 says...
10:57am Thu 8 Oct 09

when i was younger i went to a circus (1 and only time) and was so disappointed as i had seen the film the Greatest show on Earth millions of times and thought it would be the same - how wrong was i! The circus is a thing of the past - a circus was Lions, Tigers, Bears, monkeys etc. Now its goats and dogs - you may as well go to a farm to see this kind of thing!

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why don't people get it? says...
9:36pm Fri 9 Oct 09

Did you visit the circus? I did. Unbelievable to see 'EACH& EVERYONE' of the animals in outstanding condition. I know the work involved in keeping horses looking well, and so to see the perfect condition of these animals was quite something.

Added to that, more over their shiny coats and perfect body weight all of the animals appeared completely relaxed and happy. When you visit the zoo next watch how the tigers pace up and down and generally look anxious. The tigers I saw truly looked relaxed and behaved more like **** cats!

I saw the first 'happy & relaxed, looking camels I have ever seen in my life. No offence to camels, but they normally look miserable buggers!

What I find the most offensive is the easy acceptance so many people have of dressing animals in human design clothes; apparently that's cute and fashionable. Carrying dogs in handbags. Over feeding animals and not providing the correct animal diet, but rather feeding them from the table. - All considered ok by general society (not me). How about people stop acting like sheep and listening to these animal rights do-gooders who all appear to be soft in the head. How many hoops do the circus creaters have to go through to prove they care for the animals? Vets, RCPCA, public inspection - on each and every stop! What the hell do they have the chance to hide?!

Before we, (I mean YOU), allow another british tradition to disappear into oblivion get out there and show your support. Don't be an armchair, brainless, typical, public opinion believing what you read, GO SEE FOR YOURSELF!

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