This year the Australian Super Circus used 2 African elephants in their shows in Drumahoe. After the last show on Sunday 6th july, rainbow centre volunteers and members of ARAN witnessed the elephants being led from the tent after performing and straight into a container lorry where they would have had very little room to move and very little natural light. We can only imagine how long they would have been forced to remain there.
A circus is no place for any animal, especially not an intelligent and highly social animal such as the elephant and Irish Circuses, Australian Super Circus in particular use African elephants to "perform" at their shows as well as horses, kangaroos, dogs and other wild animals.
DERRY NEWS ARTICLE By Marianne Craig marianne@derrynews.net Speaking to the Derry News, Joanne Mullan, of the Rainbow Rehoming Centre and a member of the Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN), explained their stance.
“Travelling circuses are totally self-regulated, they are exempt from the Dangerous Wild Animals Order to require licenses in Ireland and DEFRA has no powers of entry into a circus so as a result there is no government body to regulate or inspect the welfare of circus animals and we feel this is unacceptable.”
Miss Mullan said the protesters were also deeply concerned about the training methods used by the circus, and said that performing elephants are often conditioned through physical pain and mental intimidation.
She also rejected claims by the circus owner Alexander Scholl that he has spoken to them 'many times' and has invited them to look at the condition the animals are kept in.
“Last Friday we were approached by the elephant handler who invited us in to have a look at the elephants.
“We said we would go in but only if we had the permission of the circus owners, but we never got that permission and we have never been approached Alexander Scholl contrary to his claims.
Circus owner Alexander Scholl defended their treatment of their animals and said they has ‘nothing to hide’.
He said that the animals were allowed to roam freely in the fields behind the circus, but refused to elaborate on his training techniques as he feared other circus owners would copy them.
“I do not have licences for my animals because they were born in the circus. They are well treated here. I have a big name to lose so I have to treat them well,” he said.
The Derry News put Mr Scholl’s comments to Miss Mullan who replied: "I wish to dispute the fact that the circus have access to the fields behind the circus. There is a very small grassy area in which we have yet to see one animal ‘roam’.
“I also find it very convenient that the training techniques used on the animals cannot be ‘elaborated’ on.
“Various reports published online have highlighted concerns regarding this circus. If the reports could not be backed up by evidence they would not be there."
