Video shows circus elephants being beaten
An animal rights charity has released behind-the-scenes footage of circus elephants being beaten.
Some of the video scenes, obtained during an undercover investigation by Animal Defenders International, were filmed when the Great British Circus travelled to Glen Parva, on the outskirts of Leicester, in April.
In the four-minute video, an elephant groom can be seen punching the animals and hitting them with a stick as they retreat in fear.
The elephants – named Sonja, Delhi and Vana Mana – can also be seen in chains.
The circus said a keeper who had been found to be mistreating the animals was "instantly sacked".
He left the company on May 18, just over a week after the circus left Glen Parva.
The video has sparked renewed calls from campaigners for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.
Jan Creamer, chief executive of Animal Defenders International, said the footage showed a "staggeringly high level of casual violence".
Phil Hudson, spokesman for Leicester Animal Concern, said: "Even if these elephants were fed well, watered and loved to death, they are still wild animals, not domesticated, and they're used to roaming for hundreds of miles whenever they want to.
"Sadly, I'm not surprised by this. Circuses are archaic and the Government should be condemned for not stopping them."
Despite calls from the Captive Animals Protection Society urging people in Leicestershire not to attend the event, hundreds of people filled the big top every night for almost three weeks earlier this year.
Today, a spokesman for that charity said: "We will ensure that these three elephants keep the debate about animal circuses clearly in the public light."
The circus has always maintained that conditions are frequently inspected by officials who are "full of praise" for its high standards.
Circus spokesman Chris Barltrop said the sacked elephant groom's behaviour had been "insupportable and completely wrong".
Mr Barltrop said: "The circus is valuable culturally, and people derive benefit and pleasure from seeing animals working with people in harmony. If an individual behaves inappropriately to an animal in any context, a pet owner, farmer, or in a circus, action should be taken against that individual."
Speaking about the elephants' accommodation on the company's website, circus director Martin Lacey wrote: "It is perfectly acceptable for elephants to wait in their travel accommodation, with food and water, where the temperature can be regulated to make sure it does not drop below 15 degrees, while their stable tent is erected.
"Apart from this time the elephants move freely around their roomy accommodation – a stables tent where they can shelter if they choose, and an ample paddock where they graze and play.
"They are kept indoors only at night, or in unsuitable weather."
A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: "Work is currently underway on whether the Government should regulate the use of wild animals in circuses, and is due to be completed later this year – but this does not stop anyone who is aware of a problem from reporting it to the authorities now."
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by Carla, Market Bosworth
Thursday, August 20 2009, 1:00PM
“The video is so sad. I was given tickets to this 'show' and refused based on animal welfare grounds. When will people learn that our 'entertainment' is not worth the suffering of these beautiful gentle creatures.”
by Jane, New Zealand (ex Leicester)
Thursday, August 20 2009, 12:58PM
“Oops, sorry folks. The elephant did not sell the circus, her owner did. As far as I know they were just friends, not business partners. Just me having a "senior moment".”
by Jane, New Zealand (ex Leicester)
Thursday, August 20 2009, 12:54PM
“I absolutely refuse to go to circuses with trained animals, and have done for years, it is absolutely gross. Here in NZ we have a problem with an elephant who retired and sold the circus. They would like to retire the elephant, but no zoo will take her, and they worry that if she has such a dramatic change of lifestyle after all these years, it will just confuse her. She eats tons of vegetables every day, so is expensive to keep, maybe that is why no zoo will take her, it is quite a dilemma. Her old owner, who describes the elephant as his "best mate", cannot keep her, and she misses him. God only knows what will happen to the poor old thing (the elephant, not Tony, her previous owner!).
The thought of animals performing for our entertainment, and especially if they are being maltreated, turns my stomach. I'd like to poke that circus worker with a stick, see how he likes it. He should be prosecuted for his cruelty. Cruelty to animals is a marker for future psychopathic behaviour!”
by Matt, Leicester
Thursday, August 20 2009, 12:46PM
“When this dubious form of entertainment was actually in Leicester there were plenty of people on here defending the circus, claiming the animals actually enjoy it, the trainers weren't cruel etc etc There was even one woman who wouldn't have a bad word said against it mainly on the basis that her child got to ride on a Zebra when the parade came through town... well that's all right then, I hope it was worth it, all those animals suffering for a few cheap thrills.”
by John Stitch, Leicester Town
Thursday, August 20 2009, 12:20PM
“Well said, Lee. It's beyond me why grown responsible adults would want to pay good money to take their children to look at this sort of thing in the name of 'British' entertainment in this day and age. There's something not quite right with that, is there ?”
by lee, leicester
Thursday, August 20 2009, 12:03PM
“PLEASE STOP GOING TO THE CIRCUS. PUT THESE SICKOS OUT OF BUSINESS”
by LM, Leicester
Thursday, August 20 2009, 11:37AM
“Animals being taken from their mothers at an early age, kept in un-natural surroundings for our pleasure, punished and trained in order to get them to act as we wish, rather than as is natural to them. Sounds horrible, but isn't the above true of most of the household pets we keep?? I'm obviously not condoning animal cruelty, and this blokes actions are deplorable, but it is worth considering before we start harping on about the immoral use of animals in circuses.
I imagine this will spark a flood of comments saying that I think beating elephants is acceptable, obviously I don't. I'd just like to know if the responses would be so harsh if the headline was "Man hit's dog on nose for disobeying him" If not I suggest we keep opinions to one man's mistreatment of circus animals rather than the barbarism of the circus.
Cue "hate posts"!!”
by Pablo, Birmingham
Thursday, August 20 2009, 11:17AM
“I totally agree with all these comments! I remember a few years back when a Lion tamer put his head inside a Lion's mouth (or was it a Tiger-can't remember now) and the animal clamped it's mouth shut with the tamers head inside...served him right!!! It's abuse and it chould not be accepted!”
by Maz, Whetstone
Thursday, August 20 2009, 10:23AM
“To the "hundreds of people who filled the big top every night for almost three weeks". Hang your heads in shame! I do not understand why anyone would want their children to see animals 'performing' for their entertainment.”
by BJB, Glen Parva
Thursday, August 20 2009, 10:13AM
“Sick and disgusting. Well done LM for posting the video,the pictures paint a thousand words. Steve from Blaby is right about the camels.The circus should be banned. I never have been, nor ever will, go to a circus.”