Animal Defenders International (ADI) is calling on Herefordshire residents to avoid Peter Jolly’s Circus whilst it performs in Leominster. The circus is one of two which still feature wild animal acts, a practice which the charity describe as ‘outdated’ and ‘overwhelmingly opposed by the public and animal experts.’

Jan Creamer, President of Animal Defenders International, said: “Animal Defenders International has repeatedly documented the suffering and abuse of animals in circuses. Circuses simply cannot meet the needs of animals in small, mobile accommodation. You can help stop the suffering – don’t go to a circus with animals.”

Given the constant travel and their temporary nature, the charity warns that circuses cannot provide animals with adequate facilities to keep them physically or psychologically healthy.

The British Veterinary Association concluded that the welfare needs of non-domesticated, wild animals ’cannot be met within a travelling circus - in terms of housing or being able to express normal behaviour’.

As well as vets, the continued use of wild animals in circuses is widely opposed by animal welfare experts, animal protection groups, politicians and a huge majority of the public. 97% of respondents to a recent public consultation by the Welsh Government supported legislation to make it an offence and, in response to a consultation by Defra on the issue, 94.5% of respondents supported a ban.

45 countries around the world have introduced prohibitions on animals in circuses to date. In the UK, the Scottish Government has passed a ban on wild animal acts, the first nation in the UK to do so. England and Wales are set to bring in similar bans.

Over 200 local authorities in the UK have prohibited wild or all animal acts on public land and opinion polls consistently show that the public remains overwhelmingly opposed to wild animal acts, with a high proportion against all animal acts. 

Despite assurances from the circus industry that animals are well cared for, the physical and psychological health of animals in circuses is inevitably compromised. Animals in circuses can also be subjected to brutal training methods and violence – wherever ADI has conducted an undercover investigation in the UK and around the world it has documented acts of abuse.

A spokesperson for the charity told the Ross Gazette: “Animal circuses do nothing to teach people about the animals’ real needs and the way they live, and have no role to play in education or conservation. 97% of respondents to the Welsh consultation agreed a ban would have a positive impact on attitudes of children and young people towards animals.”

Visit www.ad-international.org for more information.

The Ross Gazette has contacted Jolly's Circus for their comments.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.