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| The GBC, who include lions, tigers, horses, ponies, llamas, reindeer, camels and zebras among their ‘stars’, obtained Sonja the African elephant from a game park after her mother was slaughtered in a cull. Delhi and Vana Mana, the Asian elephants, were bought directly from an animal dealer, who sold them on behalf of a timber camp in Burma. Elephants are highly intelligent animals and have a complex social structure based around family groups. In the wild they cover vast distances to find water and the huge quantities of vegetation they need to survive. |
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Elephants being trained before a circus performance | |
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| Circus life, with its restrictive pens, demeaning performances and constant travelling is no life for an elephant. They are shackled by short chains for long periods of time, dominated by demanding handlers wielding sticks and forced to carry out repetitive movements which place strain on their joints. Unable to develop natural behaviour and family bonds, circus elephants become emotionally unstable. Oxford University’s Department of Zoology found that Asian elephants in European zoos and circuses have just half the life-span of animals working in timber camps (living until around 15, instead of 30 years old), while none live to the 60-65 years possible in the wild. They live their short lives in squalor, and die with little dignity. |
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| Wildlife Behaviour Specialist and Chief Executive of Care for the Wild International, Dr. Barbara Maas, says “Elephant research has shown that they suffer profoundly in captivity. It is absolutely impossible for a circus to provide a suitable environment for elephants which would not significantly impair their welfare. There are no educational or conservation values to circuses, only public entertainment for profit. This is an unacceptable step backwards and should not be tolerated, especially in an animal loving country like the UK. This ridiculous practice must stop now.” |
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Family life and walking are important for elephants' health | |
| There have been accidents, including deaths, to many visitors during elephant performances throughout the world. Some years ago an elephant went berserk during a show outside Bangkok, attacking and injuring spectators, and goring a British tourist to death. Many incidences go unreported. Wild animals can be unpredictable, even when raised in captivity; their natural, instinctive behaviour can surface at any time. This is especially true if the animal has suffered traumatic circumstances in the past, as Sonja the African elephant must have when her mother was gunned down in front of her. | |
| The use of performing animals for entertainment is outdated and cruel. Overwhelming public opinion suggests that audiences have no desire to watch animal handlers forcing laboured performances out of jaded animals. Pressure is mounting on Ministers to prevent the return of more animal shows after the signing of a cross-party petition by 180 MPs calling for a ban on wild animal circuses. In the name of both animal welfare and visitor safety, Care for the Wild International urges the UK Government to join Austria, Croatia, Belgium, Finland and Poland, which all have full or partial bans on animal shows, and end the use of wild animals in circuses immediately. | |
| What you can do:
The Great British Circus began touring on the 27th February 2009, and their next venue is at Glanford Park football ground, Scunthorpe between the 10th-15th of March. CWI urge members of the public to boycott the tour, and to tell family and friends to do the same.
Please write to the Minister for Animal Welfare, Jane Kennedy MP to express your views:
DEFRA
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
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