11 June 2008 - The South East’s Green MEP has called for an end to the exploitation of wild animals kept in captivity for ‘entertainment’ purposes, as Martin Lacey’s Great British Circus brings its performing lions, tigers, zebras and camels to West Sussex.

The controversial circus is the last one in the UK to parade big cats and one of only a handful in the country that still uses performing animals. It is due to open at the West Sussex Showground in Dial Post near Worthing this week, before moving on to Godstone in Surrey.

Dr Lucas MEP expressed serious concerns over the welfare of wild animals held captive in circuses and called on MPs to show their support for an Early Day Motion (1) in the UK Parliament which urges the Government to maintain its commitment to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses, and to restrict the use of domesticated animals through a strict licensing system.

She said: “Touring circuses may cover thousands of miles a year, with animals being confined for hours in temporary accommodation. In such conditions, it is impossible to provide them with the facilities they need.

“In the wild, large animals such as big cats are social creatures, living and travelling in groups or herds. In circuses, they live in mobile wagons and often spend most of the day chained up. If they are lucky, they might have access to a grassed electric fenced enclosure or slightly larger exercise area.

“This lifestyle prevents them from being able to perform natural behaviours like hunting, playing and grooming, and can lead to them becoming stressed and frustrated. Abnormal behaviours such as rocking, swaying, pacing and nodding are commonplace.”

Animal welfare organisations have also reported that spikes, brooms and rods are used cruelly during the training of circus animals, and that claims by circus owners that their trade is involved in conservation and education are invalid.

Dr Lucas concluded: “Animal circuses are sometimes hailed as a part of our cultural heritage and yet, in their current form, they only date from the 19th century. The once-popular travelling freak shows have been relegated to the past where they belong, and now the Government must ensure the same fate for animal circuses.”

Martin Lacey, the owner of the Great British Circus, is said to have verbally and physically assaulted a BBC reporter who questioned him earlier this year on the way in which his animals were being kept (2). He also refused to let a local news photographer take pictures of his circus animals in cages in February (3).

ENDS

Notes to Editors

2) Circus ringmaster violently attacks BBC reporter, http://www.captiveanimals.org/news/2008/lacey.html

3) Newark Advertiser - http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/template/temp0.asp?id=fa67880f-26d9-102b-809e-c80eeb737c15