Dick Skellington reports on one piece of Government legislation that is definitely worthwhile
The publicity given to the cruel treatment of Anne, an Asian elephant, was one of the factors which persuaded Ministers that a ban was now long overdue. The elephant was secretly filmed by the Animal Defenders International (ADI) chained to the ground. Footage posted on YouTube showed Anne being beaten with a pitchfork. Bobby Roberts, who ran Super Circus in Polebrook, Cambridgeshire, was convicted of failing to prevent an employee from repeatedly cruelly treating Anne.
The RSPCA welcomed the move and said it was vital that quick action was taken to end the suffering of animals working in circuses. A spokeswoman said: “What is important for us is that there is a clear deadline date for the ban and a proper retirement plan is put in place for the animals. There are huge welfare concerns involved with hauling circus animals like zebras, lions and tigers across the country for our entertainment.”
It is estimated that across Britain there are 35 wild animals being used in the only two circuses still operating. You may see some when the travelling menageries visit your local park this summer. The hope is that in the interim period wild animals will be not exposed to any further mistreatment.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “We announced in March 2012 that it was our intention to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses and we are now working towards bringing in a Bill to achieve this."
I am with the American Civil Rights activist Dick Gregory on circus animals. He drew a parallel between the treatment of animals in circuses and the treatment of slaves: “When I look at animals held captive by circuses, I think of slavery. Animals in circuses represent the domination and oppression we have fought against for so long. They wear the same chains and shackles."
The new law will ban wild animals, but perhaps does not go far enough. Domesticated animals such as cats, dogs, rabbits and horses will still be allowed. I remain concerned too about the caging of animals in zoos, but that concern is for a post in the future. Here, after much ministerial prevarication, let us give the Government its due.
Anne survived and is now enjoying life in her new surroundings at Longleat.
For details of the Government position see here.
Dick Skellington 1 July 2013
The views expressed in this post, as in all posts on Society Matters, are the views of the author, not The Open University.