Following the announcement of his retirement and closure of the circus in Horse and Hound, Great British Circus owner Martin Lacey, has quickly corrected the story to say that he plans to continue with the circus, but without animals. Ahh. Let’s wait and see whether this is all about publicity.
Finally, Great British Circus owner Martin Lacey has seen the writing on the wall – people don’t want to see archaic shows where miserable animals plod around being beaten, poked and prodded.
Rather than turn his show into one of the successful human-only shows, Lacey announces the sale of his animals in Horse & Hound magazine, saying that he is to retire.
No retirement for his poor tigers though, which one of his workers told an ADI investigator are to be sold to another circus, maybe in Italy.
We have exposed GBC several times now, most recently in 2009, when three elephants from Germany were beaten mercilessly by their handler and trainer; water was put out of reach behind an electric tape fence; a claimed “six” welfare inspections by local authorities, police and RSPCA, did not discover the abuse. But the UK Government still claims that inspections can protect these animals.
Good news to hear that circus impresario Gerry Cottle – who moved to human-only circus shows some years ago – has recently announced his belief that the presence of animals gives circuses a bad name. Quite right.
However, will the UK Government see the light? The public and parliamentary support for an end to the use of wild animals in travelling circuses has never been higher. Will they bow to the nation’s wishes, and bring in a ban before the next election? Now is the time!
Meanwhile – the ADI Peru team has been in meetings with government officials on implementation of the ban there.
The Government has, despite opposition and advice to the contrary, issued proposals for a licensing regime for wild animals in circuses. Only wild animals will be inspected, leaving other species to their fate – something that concerned even the Defra vets conducting their secret inspections (revealed by ADI’s FOIA application). Our investigations have shown that inspections have not succeeded in identifying either animal abuse, or failings of animal husbandry. Our films of inspectors show how easy it is to deceive the eye, reported in our ‘Out of Control’ – http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=2255&ssi=10
We received many calls in the London office when Vision Express adverts for spectacles featured performing primates – we have been speaking with Vision Express executives and shown them the footage of the living conditions of these specific animals. We hope that the company will introduce an ethical policy, see the full details at: http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=2768&ssi=7
Meanwhile, we fast approach the implementation of the new European Directive on animal experiments. The UK will have new laws in 2013.
Read about out key concerns with the new EU Directive http://www.navs.org.uk/about_vivisection/27/43/2670/
Find out why animal experiments are unreliable and unnecessary, click here http://www.navs.org.uk/about_vivisection/27/44/419/
Jan Creamer 