"In regards to an RSPCA report that was not used as it did not produce the results they had hoped for, this British news source used a picture of a "British lion act" that has not toured in Great Britain since 1997, to get "their" point across. It can and is "spun" both ways. I will stress again, take nothing at face value. Research and study the facts for your self if you want to really benefit performing/show/exhibit animals and their history. Do not accept what you want to hear as fact."
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A ban on the use of wild animals such as lions and tigers in performing circuses is to be reexamined by the Government.
Hilary Benn, the Environment Secretary, signalled the move yesterday after an 18-month official inquiry found no scientific evidence that the welfare of animals kept in circuses was “any better or worse” than those kept in zoos or on farms.
Mike Radford, chairman of the circus working group, told ministers that in the absence of sufficient knowledge about the welfare of wild animals in circuses any ban “is ultimately a political decision.”
What kind of 'science' shows that road travel in a cramped space followed by an arena of flashing lights, noisy crowds and cracking whips is a suitable environment for a lion? 'Science' carefully tailored towards facilitating a fast buck, that's what.
Note the careful wording - 'no better or worse...'
Just wait - we'll see Vegas-style performing lions in the super casinos next. What a bunch.
Martin Craig, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
I understand people's genuine concerns over performing animals. People who don't like the idea of performing animals have a right to their opinions. But so have the vast numbers of people who are happy with the idea of humans and animals working together, so long as they can be certain the the animals' physical and mental welfare is of the finest.
Here, at last, we have got beyond the false claims put out by the Animal Rights groups that every animal in every circus everywhere is subject to ill-treatment and dreadful cruelty.
I hope we can now return to the important agenda of guaranteeing the well-being of the animals. Regulate the circus, and enforce the regulation effectively, That's the public's guarantee that all is well: those measures will protect the animals, and will also safeguard the Classical circus, which is valuable as an amenity and as an art-form.
Chris Barltrop, on tour with the Circus,
This is now the 2nd report into circus animals, the 1st being commissioned by the RSPCA, and BOTH have come out saying overall circuses are not by the nature bad for animals, and there is no scientific evidence to prove otherwise. LISTEN to these reports, not the animal rights brigades propoganda. This is the TRUTH!! Yes in the past there has been bad apples in the box, but UK circuses with animals in 2007 are a huge way different to those of ten years ago. They have greatly improved, they have had to!! The circus has always been a soft target for the animal rights people. If they had their ways, there would be bans on fishing, horse racing, pets, police horses etc & compulsary vegetarianism!
The RSPCA and co. are trying to portray an outdated view of UK circuses with animals, saying they still force chimps to wear clothes, Lions are forced to jump through hoops of fire, and bears riding bikes etc. This is all untrue! Pure dramatisation to earn more donations from the public.
Adrian C, Shepperton, Middlesex
Hauled around the country in cages too small to move about in, beaten or burned into doing tricks for our entertainment , surrounded by loud noises and flashing lights, kept in close proximity or even doing tricks with completely incompatable species...how much more "sufficient knowledge" do we need than one tiny dram of common sense? Come on - what scientific
evidence do they need? And if the zoos and "farms" (whatever those are) around here aren't giving them better lives than the circuses would, then shame on the zoos and farms!
Deborah Robinson, Hartford,
In 1989 the RSPCA paid a considerable sum to have a report made in regard to animals in circuses. They used public money then when they did not get the results they wanted they binned the report.
http://free.polbox.pl/k/kiley/
Thomas Rainey, Sway,
Posts
4 comments:
There isn't a ban on the use of such animals in British circus any way, although some local authorities have complete bans on true circus (i.e. with animals). And the photo shown may well depict a lion, but the act isn't a lion act. Not unless some of the lions are wearing fancy dress and just seem to be tigers!
Chris Barltrop knows his stuff.
John,
I'm having a hard time following your "interpretation" of this post. I never said it was a "lion" act, that is why I quoted it. I have tried to correct those types of "misinterpretations" for years. A member of Alex's family who worked a cage act assisted by John Illig, consisting of I believe 2 Polar bears, a Himalayan bear, a black bear, and 2 brown bears for one year lists "trained a Polar bear act" on their resume/press interviews. I also think it was Times Online's "creative" use of a photo and trainer who has been out of the country for over 10 years to get their "point/agenda" across. I trust if they had looked hard enough, there are photos available of "lions" currently performing in England to go along with the dropped ban issue.
Speaking of creative, maybe Chris Barltrop, who "knows his stuff" might explain this statement for my understanding:
"overall circuses are not by the nature bad for animals"
I don't quite understand "overall" and "by the nature?"
Or this one:
"outdated view of UK circus's("or circu's around the world, my quote") circuses with animals, saying they still force chimps to wear clothes, Lions are forced to jump through hoops of fire, and bears riding bikes etc. This is all untrue"
Does he know a particular chimp who, upon rising goes to the dresser and choses which chinos and shirt he wants to wear that day? Or a particular bear who choses either his mountain bike or racing bike to ride that day?
How does Mr. Baltrop train a lion to jump through a hoop of fire? By the very definition of the word "training/conditioning a desired response" and animal is "forced," whether it be the withholding/giving of a food reward/releasing/applying of pressure. Who and how is applying these stimuli, determines to what degree an animal is "forced", but rest assured they are indeed "forced." If we had eliminated offenders, instead of defending them, we would not now be defending the profession they are attempting to eliminate.
Wade
Wade.
I realise that you were not the person who referred to this particular act as a "lion act". My point was/is that "the media" don't know what they're talking about and just want good copy.
You and I both recognise the top of the head in the photo, and i think we both consider the young man to be a friend.
John,
My point was if it is a story against, the industry cries fowl. If it is a story for, the industry reference's it proof all is well and we are a "soft target." They used Alex's picture as he is the best there is, and has British connections for sure, plus the header said "Ban on lions may be dropped". I thought the fact that he has not been in Great Britain since the lion was a wee lad was relevant to point out Times Onlines spin in the plus direction. If you put the cursor on the picture on the site, it say's British lion trainer Alex Lacey. That is like posting a picture of GGW as an example of German circus tigers or Josip Marcan as an example of Yugoslavian animal practices. There are enough examples of bad apples in their countries, to maybe suggest why it happened. Not using people who spent a few weeks/few years of their professional career there, before leaving.
Wade
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