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Friday, 3rd September 2010

Travelling circus set to spark protest

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Published Date: 02 July 2009
By Gavin Gibbon
ANIMAL rights protesters have targeted the town next month to demonstrate against a planned circus.
Activists from the Edinburgh-based animal welfare group Bunny Huggers, who regularly campaign across Scotland, will be protesting against Zippo's Circus on August 1.

They have scheduled a free bus from the capital, while their numbers are also exp
ected to be boosted by protesters from Glasgow and the Borders.

The circus is one of only eight throughout Britain which uses animals and features four horses as part of their show, as well as performing budgies.

And while the owners of the popular circus maintain that all animals are looked after, chairman of Bunny Huggers, Varda Mahrotra, said their inclusion was wrong.

She told the Hawick News: "We'll be coming from all different parts of Scotland. There will be people in costumes, a lot of leafleting, banners and placards as we try to raise awareness of the fact that animals are still being used in circuses and this is not what the Scottish public wants."

The circus, which is touring the whole of the United Kingdom, is due to visit Hawick from July 31 to August 3 and will be based in the Common Haugh.

Norman Barrett with one of Zippo's performing budgies
Norman Barrett with one of Zippo's performing budgies


Chris Barltrop, from Zippo's, said: "We don't believe this protest will represent the views of the general public, but of politically-motivated activists."

He revealed that their circus is regularly visited by animal welfare inspectors and also by inspectors from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

He added: "The circus-going public universally praise Zippos' animal care. However, that doesn't mean the animal campaign organisations are satisfied.

"The campaigners' view is that animals shall not be in the circus, and they make outlandish claims of ill-treatment to justify their views. Anyone who visits the circus can see how the animals are actually kept and treated."

At the start of the tour of Scotland an SSPCA inspection was carried out with regard to the welfare and transportation of the animals.

And in his report, Michael Flynn, chief superintendent of the SSPCA, said: "I have no concern over the welfare or care of any of the horses, ponies or budgerigars on site and I am happy with the transport available for the animals."



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  • Last Updated: 02 July 2009 2:28 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Hawick
 
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Henry Oak,

Hawick 03/07/2009 11:29:01
Varda Mahrotra of Bunny Huggers said: "this is not what the Scottish public wants"
Speak for yourself, Ms. Mahrotra, I am part of the Scottish public and your views are certainly not mine.

It's people like her who would ban the Common Riding rideouts if they got their way.
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Craig Redmond,

Manchester 03/07/2009 14:30:45
Boycott animal circuses

Animals don’t belong in a circus. The constant transportation from town to town for ten months each year and confinement for long periods means that a travelling circus can never meet all of the needs of these animals, whether elephants, lions, tigers or horses.

Claims by circuses that animals are stimulated by performances are false. In fact, the same tricks are generally repeated for years.

Animals are trained away from the scrutiny of the public, politicians or welfare groups. Undercover investigations at circuses in the UK have revealed animals beaten with sticks, bars and whips and sick animals hidden from the RSPCA.

There is no educational value in seeing these once proud animals reduced to performing tricks in an unnatural environment. Circuses teach a lack of respect for animals.

CAPS is not opposed to circuses, only to the use of animals, and we encourage people to avoid animal circuses and instead visit one of the many excellent shows that rely entirely on human skills.

We also ask people to write to their MP, asking them to encourage the government to ban the use of animals in circuses.

Circuses YES, Animals NO.

The Captive Animals' Protection Society
PO Box 4186
Manchester
M60 3ZA
www.captiveanimals.org

Registered charity in England and Wales. Number 1124436
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Chris Barltrop,

England 03/07/2009 15:21:17
Predictably, it's a campaign group that 'comments' here, promoting its biased self-interest and ignoring the truth. I'd rather take notice of the wishes of the genuine general public. They'll be the ones coming to the circus in large numbers, and they won't have to be artificially bussed in from great distances.
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Adrian Corti,

England 04/07/2009 08:32:28
The Scottish public have brains of their own, they do not need to be dictated to by the likes of the farcical 'Bunny Huggers' or politically motivated CAPS, who are looking for donations as always! Zippos circus features 4 horses, 2 ponies and some pet budgies. Now correct me if I am wrong, but these are domesticated animals, and have been for centuries! The animals at Zippos are cherished members of the circus family, showing people how man & animals work together as they have for centuries. Tens of thousands of people visit & enjoy Zippos every year, compared with the small vociferous minority that try & force their views on everyone else! If the truth be known, CAPS & bunny huggers would have compulsary vegetarianism, they would ban all human contact with animals, ban pets, ban horse racing, ban police horses, ban fishing etc etc...

I highly recomend Zippos circus with its brilliant well cared for & happy animals. Just look at the kids faces when the horses come out.... real childhood experiences & memories. Do not beleive all you hear from these activists, see for yourself how well cared for these animals are, and Scottish born Tom Roberts presenting his beautiful palamino horses! Thankyou.
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Karlsp,

Edinburgh 04/07/2009 10:22:50
"Boycott animal circuses"

"Animals don’t belong in a circus. The constant transportation from town to town for ten months each year and confinement for long periods means that a travelling circus can never meet all of the needs of these animals, whether elephants, lions, tigers or horses."


This just shows how little these guys actually know..... On a daily basis racehorses/ show horses / etc are couped up for much longer journeys than the circuses make. The journeys for circuses tend not (ok not all the time), to be horrifically long, as we all know open one day, pull down, build up, open again the next ! Meaning transportation over long distances isnt a viable option on a regular basis. From what i have seen animals are generally loaded last into the wagons before moving on, and are unloaded first at the new destination...

Furthermore how on earth can a minority group claim to represent the views of the general public. One coach from Edinburgh ??? Doesnt sound like a general consensus of opinion. The circus have been cleared by the authorities, so what rgith do these small minded idiots have to stop others doing what they want. They need to grow up and find something more constructive to do with their time.

Finally "BunnyHUggers", what does that name suggest ? Sounds to me like they are happy to have animals reared for public use on their say so, shouldnt bunnies be back in the wild ? What damage are you doiung to a bunny by hugging it ? Bloody hypocrites !
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Karlsp,

04/07/2009 10:29:24
"Animals are trained away from the scrutiny of the public, politicians or welfare groups. Undercover investigations at circuses in the UK have revealed animals beaten with sticks, bars and whips and sick animals hidden from the RSPCA."

Most UK circuses are highly respectable operations , and do their utmost to protect their prize assets. Perhaps your intentions are honourable but misplaced. How many animals are we talking about being mistreated if any ??? compared to race / show horses, let alone dogs / cats / and other domestic pets. We all know their have been some historic cases in the circus but just like most other industries things have had to change fo rthem to survive. Circuses are subject to strict scrutiny, and care well for their animals.

Perhaps your efforts would be better placed stopping people treating their domestic pets cruelly which would have a much greater impact on animal welfare !
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pat foley A CIRCUS FAN FORVER,

limerick ireland 05/07/2009 18:16:05
once again animal right get full review, what about the hardship the circus has to go through on a daily basis. forget about the animals for a minute, theres humans involved in this business as well, i have been a circus supporter for 40 yrs not once have i seen any abuse on any show, "and i have to a lot!", the British circus was the formost of the worlds circus up to 20 yrs ago, then all these educated people, with not better to do, decided oh "animal circus let us target them" for pity sake if those animals were abused there would be a lot of animal trainers dead today, we need circuses to give us a lift, we are in a resession and for a few pounds you get two hours of good clean family entertainment, and its live, cinema, tv, or cumputer games will never replace the excitment of a travelling circus, and animal rights will be there in EDINBURGH, if its not raining, LONG LIVE ANIMAL CIRCUS, and it would be better if animal right drove around council estates and witness real animal abuse that goes on in a daily basis, or is it to much like hard work.

http://www.circuseire.com
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Steve Jacks,

Sussex 10/07/2009 00:20:59
I have been going to see Zippos Circus for as long as I can remember. The show is tremendous and the animals (albeit horses only really) are greatly cared for and well presented. People must go for themselves to see and not listen to those who only have opinions.
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