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Lion Ark storms the festivals, but meanwhile LA let the animals down

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The Lion Ark film festival tour continued with three shows in Ft Lauderdale, Florida, which was wonderful. We are on our way to DC now for meetings, then to Charlottesville to play at the Virginia Film Festival, followed by Denver Film Festival – all very exciting.

We have three shows at Denver (four screenings for schools). The Denver schedule also includes two important after party fundraisers for Peru, as their government has asked us to perform the same task as we did for Bolivia.

The Bolivian circus rescue is, of course, the subject of Lion Ark and audiences have been enjoying this close up and personal in-the-thick-of-the-action animal rescue – you can enjoy the adventure, will leave with a real understanding about the use of animals in traveling circuses.
Help us get Lion Ark to general distribution!
Please like Lion Ark on Facebook and help us to get wider distribution for the movie with your votes and your “likes”!
See more at: https://www.facebook.com/LionArkTheMovie

Thoughts on Los Angeles

It remains a huge disappointment that the Los Angeles City Council decided to go for the weakest option for their circus ordinance – a prohibition on the use of the bullhook (ankus) and other implements like pitchforks, when used to control elephants in a “performance related context”.

Worse still, the ban was postponed for three years. This could mean up to five years before anything can be done to end the suffering of wild animals in circuses in LA; three years waiting for the ordinance to come into force and then maybe a year or more before its effectiveness has been assessed.

Whilst phase-outs often occur when animal use (either all, or wild animals) is being eliminated, there seems no logical reason for a delay for prohibiting a control tool for a single species.

Ordinances to ban tools cannot address the issue of the suffering caused by deprived, barren environments, constant travel, small spaces and confinement. Animals being forced to stand in the same place for many hours at a time suffer stiffness and pain in their joints and commonly amongst the elephants, foot problems and arthritic conditions. The restriction of natural behaviors has an effect on both mind and body – the abnormal pacing, rocking, swaying seen in all species of animals used in traveling – lions, tigers, bears, elephants and others (including domestics) is the result of the deprivation and stress they endure. They slowly go out of their minds.

We believe there are weaknesses with banning the use of implements like bullhooks and pitchforks from circuses rather than the use of animals, and these need to be addressed. In over 20 years of investigations we have recorded animals being beaten by all kinds of tools, from shovels and brooms to iron bars, fists, whips and anything else that is to hand, such as a golf club.

There are significant enforcement issues to address with prohibitions on tools: Difficulties with monitoring, especially since most of the abuse filmed by ADI in circuses has been behind the scenes. Circuses may adapt their behavior in public; one has already circumvented such a ban by using bamboo canes to control their elephants in public.

Around the world, there are now hundreds of local bans on the use of animals in circuses – Europe, the UK, South America, the US and Asia. Twenty-five countries have national legislation ending traveling animal circus shows and others, including the UK, have legislation under consideration. In the US, there are over 30 local bans on animal circuses (wild or all animals) in 18 states. These ordinances and national laws point to the most effective way to protect these animals – take them out of the circus shows.

A strategy with inherent difficulties like a ban on tools or other implements commonly used in animal husbandry, rather than on the presence of the animals in such deprived and vulnerable circumstances, can only be regarded as a last resort, and deficiencies would need to be addressed. To ask for the weakest measure first is not, in our view, the best way to protect animals.

We cannot envisage that any of the animal circus bans we have worked on in the US and around the world, would have been achieved if we had asked for a ban on tools/weapons or equipment, rather than removal of the animals from unacceptable conditions.

See our LA City update: http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=3362&ssi=10
And the US circus campaign at:
http://www.ad-international.org/adi_usa/go.php?id=1365&ssi=10

We continue to work hard for local ordinances across the US and perhaps other cities will join with this worldwide movement and take the progressive step to enact effective protection for animals.

Support a ban on circus elephants in Los Angeles

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Come to the Los Angeles City Council Meeting 10am Wednesday 23rd and support a complete ban on the use of elephants in circuses – OPTION 1 – this is the strongest measure to protect animals. Prof Donald Broom, Cambridge University, said at the Anne the elephant cruelty trial that she probably suffered more from the conditions, the confinement, than the beatings.

Los Angeles City Council to decide about elephant ban

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Many are hearing the news from groups that there is a bullhook ban on the table at Los Angeles City Council next Wednesday, 23rd, at 10.00am.

What most have not been told, is that there are THREE options on the table, and OPTION 1 and OPTION 3 are the strongest measures for animal protection:

OPTION 1: Elephant ban–
“…an Ordinance prohibiting the use of elephants in traveling shows and exhibitions”.

OPTION 2: Bullhook and other implements ban–
“…an Ordinance prohibiting in any public performance-related context the use of bullhooks (aka “guides” or ankuses”), baseball bats, axe handles, pitchforks and other implements and tools designed to inflict pain for the purpose of training and controlling the behavior of elephants.”

OPTION 3: Combined elephant ban with bullhook ban–
“…an Ordinance prohibiting the use of elephants in traveling shows and exhibitions (including circuses) and, in any public performance-related context, the use of bullhooks/guides,baseball bats, axe handles, pitchforks and other implements and tools designed to inflict pain for the purpose of training and controlling the behavior of elephants.”

After 30 years of undercover investigations and lobbying local cities and regions, and with there now being 20 national bans on the use of animals (either just wild or wild and domestic), ADI has concluded that only a clear ban on all species or specific species can solve the suffering of animals in traveling circuses.

A bullhook ban alone fails to protect the majority of wild animals in traveling circuses; all kinds of tools are used to beat animals and it is not possible to make a workable list; there is no practical way to be sure that these weapons or tools are not being concealed somewhere in the circus, and of course, other tools can be used. Think for a moment of all the chaining and physical abuse of elephants that hasn’t involved bullhooks – like Anne the elephant beaten with pitchforks and brooms, kicked and punched, and not once in the videos used in the cruelty trial was a bullhook used. Banning the bullhook may be a symbolic step, but shouldn’t we be seizing the opportunity to actually stop the suffering? Option 1 does that, at least for elephants.

A bullhook ban does not address public safety issues – having large and stressed wild animals in open spaces in public and behind flimsy mobile, collapsible barriers and facilities is the issue. Importantly, a ban on implements does not address the most severe aspects of the mental and physical suffering – deprived, barren environments, constant travel, inability to move around at will and express normal behavior patterns – all causes of stereotypical behaviors – recorded in all species.

Only a ban on the use of animals in the context of a traveling circus can end the suffering – as has been found by hundreds of towns and cities around the world, and over 20 countries. ADI is of course concerned that just focusing on elephants will leave lions, tigers and other animals vulnerable – and leave LA open to itinerant acts such as the Hall’s Bears, where in recent weeks, we exposed extreme confinement and barren conditions as the bears moved from state to state.

However, there is a chance here to clearly eliminate the suffering of elephants in the city and that should be seized. ADI recommends support for the strongest option, OPTION 1, or at least, Option 3. A species ban is the best option to end the suffering.

Contact us at the ADI Los Angeles office for information about contacting the City Council, and for our briefing on this important campaign: usa@ad-international.org

SUPPORT A BAN ON THE USE OF ELEPHANTS IN TRAVELING SHOWS IN LOS ANGELES!

Lion Ark movie Contributor Credits Closed today

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Final credits are finished and score completed! Lion Ark is in the film festivals from October.

Early reviews are very exciting (see below) and see more news at: http://www.lionarkthemovie.com/

and on facebook at, https://www.facebook.com/LionArkTheMovie

http://theindependentcritic.com/lion_ark

http://www.current-movie-reviews.com/42728/lion-ark-review-you-will-never-look-at-a-circus-show-the-same-way-again/

http://www.examiner.com/review/lion-ark-roars

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/lion-ark-shares-story-of-daring-animal-rescue

http://www.globalanimal.org/2013/07/01/lion-ark-roars-for-circus-animals/101576/

Lion Ark is an action adventure style animal rescue where just a small group of people changed a continent – but the animals are the stars, you’ll root for the animals and love it when they win.  Photo is one of our stars, CSI actress Jorja Fox.Image

EFRA report on Wild Animals in Circuses Bill makes no sense

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The report of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee (EFRA) on the UK Government’s Wild Animals in Circuses Bill is so shallow that it makes no sense. Profoundly disappointing.

Flying in the face of overwhelming public opinion (94.5% favour a ban in a DEFRA survey); 63% of Members of Parliament favour a ban (Dods poll), and a 2011 vote of the Backbench Committee of Members of Parliament instructing the Government to introduce a ban – EFRA has decided that we only need to ban the species that we no longer have in UK circuses.

We were pleased that after twenty years of investigations, reports, studies and four criminal convictions secured through ADI investigations, the Government finally introduced a Bill to end use of wild animals in travelling circuses.

It is disturbing that now, without requesting or examining evidence of animal suffering, EFRA has recommended that only elephants (no longer in UK circuses), lions, tigers and other large cats (no longer in UK circuses) should be banned. They recommend the licensing scheme be extended indefinitely, despite that not a single prosecution nor any exposé of abuse, has been found by inspectors. On the contrary, we have filmed inspections during periods where animals have been abused or where their care is poor, and the problems were not identified. The veterinary visits and inspections of Anne the elephant at Bobby Roberts’ Super Circus did not prevent the abuse or her suffering from constant chaining, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

EFRA also claims that it is not necessary for a circus owner or worker to be banned from keeping animals under any new legislation, because the Animal Welfare Act 2006 can be used to prosecute and then ban if a conviction follows. This is far more problematic than EFRA suggests. Bobby Roberts was convicted for his failure to protect Anne under the Animal Welfare Act, however he did not receive a fine, nor did he receive a ban. If he had not given up Anne due to the media pressure, she would be with him now.

The suggestion that a list of proscribed species be added to the Bill, rather than an clear-cut end to the use of wild and exotic animals is illogical and impractical. A simple ban on non-domesticated species is clear for everyone to follow and has the support of public and parliament. A proscribed list of species invites European circuses to bring to Britain a whole range of species such as primates, rhino and even hippos – species that, currently, many of our local authorities have already banned. Over 200 local authorities in the UK do not allow animal circuses, or certain species, on their land. A list of species added to any Act would need to be regularly updated.

See our comments in The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/09/plan-ban-wild-animals-circuses-too-far

Colombia and UK circus ban updates and LION ARK THE MOVIE is here!

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Fantastic news from our Colombia team this week when, after a six year campaign of investigations, public education and lobbying, Colombia’s Senate passed the final stage of a Bill to end the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. This was a hard-fought campaign and an amazing coalition of about 70 local groups and campaigners – all determined to win for the animals, and win they did! I am so very, very proud of you all!

Meanwhile, the UK Government’s draft Bill is in committee stage, with the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee examining the Bill and receiving statements and evidence. After submitting our evidence, ADI has met with the minister, Lord de Mauley, together with other animal groups and outlined our key comments and concerns about the proposed Bill, as currently drafted. This has been a long, hard battle. Our first circus investigation was launched in 1992 and we followed up with the groundbreaking ‘Ugliest Show on Earth’ investigation launched in 1998, which we sent to every animal group in the world and provided the much needed evidence for so many campaigns. Since then it has been promise after promise, with the most recent undertakings from Government to take action being in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Meanwhile we exposed the beatings of elephants at the Great British Circus and the appalling violence to Anne the elephant at Bobby Roberts’ Super Circus, which thankfully, ended in a conviction and Anne being released from the circus.

And we have LION ARK THE MOVIE news! Just this past week, we finally finish Lion Ark, the feature length action adventure documentary about Operation Lion Ark, the rescue and relocation of 25 circus lions from Bolivia, to freedom in Colorado. An exciting and uplifting story, with the real message about animal circuses. We are now pitching the movie to the international film festivals – so keep up on the Lion Ark website and facebook to see how you can help!
http://www.lionarkthemovie.com/
https://www.facebook.com/LionArkTheMovie

Sunday Express on British Government’s animal circus licensing failure

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Excellent piece in the Sunday Express today, about the failure of the Government’s “interim” inspection/licensing regime for circus animals. We looked at ADI’s photographs of these camels in 2009, 2012 and 2013. Their facilities are just the same. So is it just that the Defra team that has been so lauded by the circus industry for helping them, has set up a scheme to legitimise the use of wild animals in circuses? We think so. We are impressed that the Sunday Express decided to speak up for the poor camels, so often ignored in these debates. In our experience, they frequently suffer brutality and get a hard time because they are seen as slow to respond and stubborn. But they like to explore, stretch their legs, stand under the sun, feel the wind, just as all animals do. But they can’t in the circus. See the Sunday Express piece by the excellent James Fielding at:
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/384873/Circus-camels-are-still-facing-life-of-misery

Britain fails to issue a single wild animal circus licence but that doesn’t stop the circuses

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Britain’s Defra (Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) informed ADI that no licences have yet been issued for the British Government’s hugely expensive and doomed scheme to regulate wild animals in circuses. Yet ADI investigators have photographed camels at Mondao circus in Kirton, Peterborough – a species that should be licensed.

On 12 October 2012 the Government announced, “A requirement that any travelling circus in England that includes wild animals first obtains a licence from Defra”. This is reiterated on Defra’s website, “The Regulations make it an offence to operate a travelling circus that has wild animals in England without a valid licence“. And, “a circus that includes wild animals and travels from place to place to give performances, displays or exhibitions and includes any place where the wild animals are kept. The definition includes all tour sites, winter quarters and anywhere else the wild animals are kept.”

Defra advised ADI by email, 26 February, “Two applications for licences have been received, but no licences have yet been issued. If any travelling circus in England is found to be using wild animals without a licence then appropriate enforcement action would be taken.”

The licensing and inspection regime was opposed by all animal welfare groups following consistent evidence of suffering and brutality released by ADI dating back twenty years. Only last year, ADI evidence secured the conviction circus owner Bobby Roberts for cruelty to his elephant, Anne. The first ever conviction of cruelty under the UK’s Animal Welfare Act after multiple inspections failed to identify any of Anne’s abuse.

Given the circumstances of keeping animals in small, lightweight, collapsible accommodation that can be fitted onto the back of a vehicle, it is simply not possible to provide these animals with the environment and facilities they need to maintain optimum psychological and physical health. That is aside from any physical abuse during training and control, that ADI has consistently exposed. The solution is not to use them in the travelling circus business.

I remain mystified by the Government’s stubborn refusal to move straight to their promise to ban wild animals from circuses, in the face of such overwhelming public and parliamentary support. A Defra survey found 94.5% of the public support a ban; a Dods poll for ADI showed the majority of Members of Parliament, 63%, also support a ban.

This appears to be blind political dogma, at the expense of vulnerable animals.
http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=3081&ssi=10

UK wild animal circuses, Anne Trial and Lion Ark

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Catching up… It’s been a very busy time with the UK Government discussing the wild animal circus issue and the new legislation on animal experiments. We’ve had the Los Angeles circus animal ban under discussion, and our Hollywood Lion Ark Night event with Bob Barker, Jorja Fox and a host of celebrities for the private preview of our new movie, Lion Ark, http://www.lionarkthemovie.com/ , then back to London for the Roberts cruelty trial.

After many promises, many delays and time and money wasted on a flawed licensing regime, we may indeed see some progress from the UK Government on the wild animal circus ban.

In a move which appears to signal the beginning of the end for the remaining wild animals in circuses in Britain, ADI revealed on 4th February that Martin Lacey, owner of the Great British Circus, had shipped his tigers off to Ireland to perform with the Courtney Brothers Circus. http://bit.ly/WM8gzp

We told ‘The Observer’ http://bit.ly/WM8gzp, “There has been enough evidence, enough consultations, all the experts agree – putting large cats and other exotic animals in tiny cages that fit on a truck, with no environmental enrichment, and then beating them to perform tricks to entertain people is unacceptable in modern society. The day of the animal circus is over.”

Only two circuses have applied for a licence under the much-criticized new licensing scheme – Circus Mondao and Peter Jolly’s Circus – and there are only a handful of wild animal acts performing across Ireland. Clear evidence of their growing unpopularity with the public.

In February, we met with John Griffiths, Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development at the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the use of wild animals in circuses.  We were heartened by the minister’s support for a ban and hopeful that Wales will introduce legislation in parallel with the UK Government.

In response to an oral question in the Welsh Assembly by Jocelyn Davies on 16th  January, the Minister had responded “….the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is considering legislation that would ban the use of wild animals in circuses. I have been liaising with the UK Government to make it clear that were that legislation to proceed, the Welsh Government would be interested in being a part of it, perhaps through a legislative consent motion, for example.”

We have also met with the Northern Ireland Assembly minister, and will be following this up, see the update at http://bit.ly/14zy8UC

It has been almost two years since our investigation exposed the terrible suffering of Anne the elephant at the winter quarters of the Bobby Roberts’ Super Circus.  Following media pressure arising from release of the footage, Roberts allowed Anne to be removed from the circus. A criminal prosecution followed using the video evidence, at a week long trial last November. Roberts was convicted of cruelty to Anne but received a derisory ‘conditional discharge’ sentence, which means that unless he commits another offence, he escapes a proper punishment.

Roberts was convicted for keeping Anne chained to the ground by two legs for the whole of the time she was in the barn, and for his failure to protect Anne from harm. However, the sentence sends the wrong message to circus owners and workers about their obligations under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The Act cannot protect these animals. And no, the inspections of the Roberts barn did not identify any of the husbandry problems, nor cruelty to Anne.

Anne has remained at Longleat Safari Park and we understand plans for an ‘elephant sanctuary’ are progressing. It’s worrying that it has taken over a year to add a grass paddock to Anne’s enclosure, she is still controlled with the traditional ankus (bullhook) weapons, and she remains alone. We were also deeply saddened to hear Longleat staff defending Roberts in the media before the trial and in court during the trial. However, let’s hope these plans will mean better life for Anne in the long term, see http://bit.ly/X2mKi2

Los Angeles considers ban on wild animals in circuses

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This week, LA City Council has started considering the options for and end to the use of wild animals in traveling circuses in the City – lions, tigers, elephants and other wild animals.

The best option put forward by officials is a ban on the use of ALL WILD ANIMALS in traveling circuses which INCLUDES blocking circuses from entering LA with these animals.

ADI Los Angeles supporters – you are on alert! Your Councilmember needs to hear from you now!

End the use of wild animals in traveling circuses in LA! Follow us every day for more news, and sign the petition – we already have 3,000 signatures – LET’S GET THIS DONE!!! see http://www.ad-international.org/petitions/?a=sign&pid=3