As the political saga surrounding the promised ban on wild animals in circuses in the UK continues, legendary actor Brian Blessed has urged the government to “end this circus madness” and finally legislate to ban such acts.
The ‘Flash Gordon’ star’s call for action comes as Animal Defenders International (ADI) reveals that the only and much criticised lion and tiger circus act will not be touring Britain this year.
Brian Blessed said “I am deeply opposed to the use of wild animals in circuses and have been working with Animal Defenders International to oppose such acts for many years. Despite repeated promises from the Government, we are still waiting for the law to pass and the animals are continuing to suffer. Please end this circus madness.”
Back in 2011, Brian Blessed made a similar plea following ADI’s shocking exposérevealing the terrible abuse inflicted on Anne, Britain’s last circus elephant. The actor joined the organisation and a delegation of MPs to present a letter to the Prime Minister calling for a ban. At the time Blessed stated, “now is the time for the government to legislate and put a stop, once and for all, to the draconian and humiliating spectacle of wild animals in circuses.”
As a result of changing attitudes and greater awareness of how circus animals are kept, trained and treated following investigations by organisations such as ADI, just two circuses in Britain currently tour with wild animals.
ADI can reveal that Thomas Chipperfield, a relative of the notorious Mary Chipperfield who was prosecuted for animal cruelty following an ADI investigation, who presents the only lion and tiger circus act in Britain, will not be touring with a circus this year. The act featured in Peter Jolly’s Circus last year, attracting widespread criticism and local protests.
Whilst in the circus and at their present overwintering location in Scotland, ADIdocumented how Chipperfield’s lions and tigers exhibited abnormal repetitive behaviour – not seen in the wild but commonly observed in circuses – indicating compromised welfare. Seeing the footage, vets Marc Abraham and Simon Adams said “Big cats are never meant to live like this” and “the limited space available in a travelling circus is unsuitable to big cats”. Although the animals will not be touring, they will likely remain in their temporary, confined living quarters.
ADI President Jan Creamer said, “While the government fails to take action, the suffering of wild animals in circuses will continue and it must take full responsibility. It is time to pass the ban that has long been promised to the public and the animals.”
Little progress has been made since the Government announced it would ban the use of wild animals in circuses in 2012, leading Jim Fitzpatrick MP to introduce a bill. Despite having cross-party support, Christchurch MP Christopher Chope has blocked the backbench bill on seven occasions. The bill will have its next second reading on Friday 27 February.
Whilst Britain stalls on progressing the ban, 30 countries have introduced laws prohibiting animals in circuses. ADI is working with authorities to rescue animals from circuses following wild animal circus bans in Peru and Colombia, and is currently caring for 30 lions and over 20 other animals. The organisation is seeking donations to complete its groundbreaking rescue mission ‘Operation Spirit of Freedom’.
“I’m so sorry that posts are few & far between, I do try to post whenever pain allows! But it’s not just pain, pain interferes with other motor skills like using my brain to write posts; what would normally take me 5 minutes now takes 5 days, please excuse mistakes with grammar etc. lol…I’m doing the best I can, while I still can!!”
“Quiet frankly, I am disgusted at the red herrings, stalling tactics & pathetic dilly dallying attempts, by the UK government, not to ban wild animals in circuses; especially since we were fooled into thinking they had decided that a ban was the right way forward. But instead of a total ban on wild animals, they came up with a new licensing regime under the Animal Welfare Act 2006! How bloody stupid, the animals are already covered under the act; it’s just there are no specific animal welfare regulations for wild animals in travelling circuses!!
They have failed miserably to conclude this issue, while other Countries have steamed ahead with a ban on all wild animals in circuses; it seems, the UK don’t think circus life for animals, isn’t bad!. Of course, homes have to be found for the wild animals already in circuses, a ban doesn’t happen overnight. Is the UK Government scared they will have to foot the bill for re-homing animals to zoo’s or safari parks? Because, I’m really struggling to find any logical reason, why they can’t stand alongside other Countries & implement the ban. I take the ban to mean, no more wild animals allowed in a circus from the date of the ban, but a grace period, for circus owners to find homes for the wild animals they hold captive ! Really, what is the governments problem, what’s actually stopping them from implementing a ban? The UK is supposed to be among one of the stricter Countries when it comes to animal welfare, yet they are failing miserably to protect wild animals; in a circus environment,often rife with cruelty & abuse!!
The UK government & the rest of the clowns that decide the fate of animals in UK circuses, actually need to grow some balls! They have shown a total lack of competence & ignorance by failing to take note of the horrific undercover videos of abuse & totally ignored the public’s vote (94% in 2010 to be exact, more like 100% now) who want a ban on wild animals in circuses; isn’t it their job to listen to the public?? Not to mention all the hard work certain ministers have done & the years of parliamentary debates: all of which clearly demonstrates the overwhelming support for a ban on all wild animals in travelling circuses.
Thanks to undercover videos, social media sites via the internet, have made the public more aware than ever, about circus life for animals.
I have written to my MP, DEFRA & Lord Henley several times regards the circus ban; but I never get the answer I’m looking for! After seeing the video that went viral overnight, of Anne the elephant, being beaten by her groom; I wrote letters & sent a petition, along with many others, to help get Anne the elephant, away from her abusive circus life. I was thrilled when she finally packed her trunk & left the circus for good. Anne is now a different elephant,although she bears the scars from circus life; she is happy & carefree at Longleat Safari Park. See petitions do work, when we all join as one to become the voice for the animals.
Animal welfare organisation “shocked” by opinion of Government Committee regarding ban on wild animals in travelling circuses in England; EFRA Committee at odds with Government policy.
The Born Free Foundationhas today hit out at a new report by the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, which recommends that the Government revise its plans to ban all species of wild animals from use by travelling circuses in England on ethical grounds.
The UK-based international animal welfare and conservation organisation called the recommendations bizarre and inconsistent, particularly where the Committee claims that public opinion is based on a mistaken perception that large numbers of elephants and big cats are still used in circuses.
Will Travers OBE, CEO of the Born Free Foundation, said: “The opinion of the Committee is woefully out of touch. The majority of the British public, and a unanimous vote in June 2011 by MPs, supported a ban on wild animals in travelling circuses, a position reflected in the Coalition Government’s clear commitment to a ban on the use of all wild animals in travelling circuses in England on ethical grounds; a commitment given repeatedly by Ministers to Born Free on numerous occasions. It has taken far too long to reach the stage of a promise to ban, and frankly I am shocked that the Committee seems to be advocating watering-down the draft legislation”.
The Committee’s understanding of the situation was further called into question when they referred to a ‘domesticated racoon’, despite this species clearly being a wild animal under the relevant legislations. Chris Draper, Born Free’s Senior Scientific Researcher added, “The Committee seems to consider that it is somehow acceptable to use species of wild animal such as zebra, racoons or snakes in travelling circuses.
Not only is this in direct contrast to the overwhelming position of the public and animal welfare experts, but it flies in the face of the Government’s principled position that there should be no wild animals of any species exploited in travelling circuses. We urge the Government to reject the Committee’s recommendations and reaffirm their commitment to bringing about an end to the use of wild animals in this way at the earliest practicable opportunity. Anything less will be seen by the public as no more or less than a betrayal of the animals concerned.”
How YOU can help:
Please contact Defra Minister Lord De Mauley and let him know that it isn’t just lions and elephants in the circus that you care about: you are concerned about ALL WILD ANIMALS! Remind him that zebras, snakes, racoons, camels and all other wild animals have no place in circuses in England.
For those of you in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, please contact your Ministers and ask them to bring in a ban on ALL wild animals in circuses (including zebra, snakes racoons etc.) as a matter of priority.
“At last, the big top is falling…but I wish it applied to all animals. All animals in circuses are deprived of their basic needs to exercise, roam, socialize, forage, and play. Horses will still be forced to perform confusing and physically challenging tricks. Former Ringling animal crew employees contacted PETA & reported that horses are grabbed by the throat, stabbed with pitchforks, punched in the face, given painful “lip twists,” and whipped. All animals feel pain, fear, loneliness, stress etc. So why ban one & not the other?? Or am I asking too much? I am very happy that wild animals will finally be banned; but I would have felt a lot happier had it been a ban on all animals performing in circuses!”
The Born Free Foundation has worked consistently for an end to the use of wild animals in circuses since its inception in 1984. Foundation representatives participated in the first Circus Working Group in the mid-1990s, and the second in 2004. Over the years Born Free has seen many lows, and precious few highs. Yet, throughout, the message has been the same: a travelling circus simply cannot meet the needs of wild animals.
Virginia McKennaOBE, Founder of the Born Free Foundation, said: “It has taken a long time – too long – but at last the end is in sight. I know for many, many people this will be a reason to rejoice. I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make a ban a reality, including Parliamentarians of all Parties. Victories for common-sense and compassion are all too rare. “
It is disappointing that it has taken this long to get to this stage, given that the recent initiative to ban originated in discussions that took place prior to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Nonetheless, the draft legislation should be welcomed as finally reflecting public, Parliamentary and expert opinion.
Born Free remains committed to supporting the enactment of similar legislation in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and for an end to the use of wild animals in circuses worldwide.
Will Travers OBE, the Foundation’s CEO, commented: “I hardly dared imagine we would see such a day when, year after year, meeting after meeting, the NGOs participating in the various Circus Working Groups churned through the evidence, debated the practicalities, fought against Defra’s institutional inertia and Government opposition to a ban. Our supporters have been amazing as have our colleagues in other organisations. One more form of wild animal exploitation is on its way out.”
It would not have been possible to achieve this without the support of campaign partners the RSPCA, CAPS and the BVA, and without the help of Born Free supporters. The work of the Zoo Check team is central to the work of the Foundation, and they work tirelessly to protect animals in zoos, circuses, as pets and in the tourist trade around the world.
Anne The Elephant, Abused in Great British Circus By Groom. Owners were charged
If you would like to help support the Foundation’s work on captive animal welfare, please consider becoming a member of the Born Free Foundation or making a donation: www.bornfree.org.uk/give
“The story of Anne the elephant, is very close to my heart! When the original news broke, with the video of her being beaten, I posted it onto Care 2; along with a petition & sent many letters to Lord Henley & the Government; including my MP. I was so pleased, when all the petitions put together made sure she was able to leave that place, imagine being shackled to the floor unable to move but a step forward or back!
“The MF that beat Anne got wind of the news in advance, somebody grassed that they police were coming for him, which is why he did a runner. Who knows, perhaps the Roberts told him to go, thinking if he left the case would be over? just hope that justice is served, & Anne did not suffer in vain; although I would have preferred the actual person seen beating Anne, to also be on trial!”
The trial of circus owners Bobby and Moira Roberts is due to go ahead on Monday 19 November, following video evidence filmed by ADI showing a worker of the Bobby Roberts’ Super Circus kicking and beating their elephant, Anne, at their winter quarters last year.
The worker caught on film left the country immediately.
Mr and Mrs Roberts are being jointly charged with a series of offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, to which they have pleaded not guilty:
1. Causing the elephant to suffer unnecessarily, by requiring the elephant to be chained to the ground at all times, contrary to section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
2. Failing to take reasonable steps to prevent their employee from causing unnecessary suffering to the elephant, by repeatedly beating it, contrary to section 4(2) of the same Act.
3. Failing to take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of the elephant were met to the extent required by good practice, contrary to section 9 of the same Act.
This is a test case, the first trial of circus owners and their responsibilities under the ‘duty of care’ detailed in the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Anne is a 59 year old female elephant wild caught in Sri Lanka and bought by the Bobby Roberts’ Super Circus in the 1950s. Anne was transferred to a safari park with the owners’ consent following the release of the ADI video in 2011.
Here are a few of letters I sent regards Anne & animals in general in the circus. You can tell by my MP’s response to one letter; I was implying that no animal should be forced to perform for human entertainment. Click on each page to read:-
“Firstly let me just say the video is not on auto play, to watch it you must click play”
“I’m disgusted at the way these workers treat these sentient beings…To make the slaughter process better, people have to join together TO WANT to make changes. I don’t eat meat but for those that do, I’m sure you too would prefer the animal to have been properly stunned & slaughtered. What you see in the video is blatant abuse, the workers enjoy inflicting pain on the animals, it must make them feel more manly…FFS…I wish they would also only have one animal at a time in the stun room, the other poor animals have to watch, not nice is it? Lets make some changes, stand up & be heard, sign the petition below”.
Although the government has been reluctant to encourage slaughterhouses to install CCTV,ten supermarkets – Morrisons, Waitrose, the Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Tesco, Lidl, Asda, Marks & Spencer and Iceland – along with wholesalers Booker, have now agreed to deal only with slaughterhouses that have independently monitored CCTV cameras installed. We are now working with the supermarket chains to ensure that the CCTV footage is monitored properly and that incidents of law-breaking are dealt with effectively.
One slaughterhouse – A&G Barber – has closed permanently as a result of our exposé, and legal action was started against nine workers and four slaughterhouse operators. But, in September 2010, DEFRA decided to drop all these cases, offering no convincing explanation for its decision. Animal Aidembarked on a long battle to reverse this decision to bring the abusers to justice, which culminated in two men being jailed for burning pigs with cigarettes and beating them with excessive force and frequency.
Bristol University is using our footage to train vets and Soil Association inspectors. The industry, government agencies and veterinary bodies are now taking part in ongoing discussions about how to implement changes and bring about improvements in animal welfare in slaughterhouses.
Most importantly, perhaps, the horror of slaughter has been brought to the public’s attention through our footage and through articles in the print media and on television. Many people have seen the reality and chosen to adopt a meat-free diet as a result.
Animal Aid started to film secretly inside Britain’s slaughterhouses in January 2009. To date, we have filmed inside nine randomly chosen slaughterhouses and found evidence of cruelty and lawbreaking in eight of them.
The problems are serious and widespread. Our films reveal animals being kicked, slapped, stamped on, and picked up by fleeces and ears and thrown into stunning pens. We recorded animals being improperly stunned and going to the knife while still conscious. Even where no laws were broken, animals still suffered pain and fear.
And ‘high welfare’ plants, such as those accredited by the Soil Association, were no better than the non-organic ones. Animal Aid believes that whether ‘conventional’, organic, kosher or halal, all slaughter is unnecessary and immoral, and the only way to prevent such suffering is to choose a meat-free diet.
We are calling for CCTV to be installed in all UK slaughterhouses and for the footage to be made available to independent parties outside of the slaughterhouse. We also want better independent training, regular retraining and assessment, rigorous enforcement of the laws. We also believe that people with outstanding convictions for violence or animal cruelty working should fail the ‘fit and proper person’ test and should not be issued a slaughter licence. Finally, we want people to see the shocking truth from inside UK slaughterhouses and choose a humane diet.
The welfare of animals at slaughteris a devolved issue, so we are lobbying each of the four GB countries to introduce a new regulation under section 12 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (England and Wales); Section 26 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006; and Section 11 of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.
When the government refused to act, Animal Aid and our supporters lobbied the supermarkets to insist on CCTV in all their slaughterhouse suppliers. The ten largest, along with wholesalers Booker, agreed, and committed to having CCTV installed by the end of 2011.
This means we have a voluntary scheme in which an estimated 80 per cent of slaughterhouses are covered. But it is only a voluntary scheme, and in order to ensure that supermarkets and slaughterhouses do not have a change of heart, CCTV must be installed in all slaughterhouses.
Animal Aid continues to work with politicians and officials in all four GB countries and is encouraged to see progress. But there is still a long way to go.
The Meat Wagon is an ambulance that has been converted to show films about animal farming and slaughter, and to promote a healthy, humane and planet-friendly diet.
It will be touring the country this summer and coming to a town near you.
Allan Staughton trapped a cat in the tumble dryer for 12 seconds
Princess the cat suffered a broken tooth, a tongue injury and was left traumatised by the vicious prank
RSPCA launched a man hunt for the 23-year-old and have asked judges to place a ban on him keeping pets
A cruel yob is facing jail after shutting his girlfriend’s terrified cat in a tumble dryer and put it through three spin cycles because he thought it was funny.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Heartless Allan Staughton, 23, put the pet in the machine for 12 seconds and even filmed the animal’s ordeal then posted a video of his vicious prank online.
During the video he can be heard joking the cat, called Princess, was ‘the new Mr Tumble’ and asked viewers to rate the disturbingYouTube video on a forum.
The RSPCA were alerted to the online video entitled ‘You must see this – it will crack you up’ and launched a man hunt for Staughton, who posted the sickening film under the aliasNitroazza. They discovered Princess suffered a broken tooth and a tongue injury in the terrifying attack and has now been rehomed.
Sick Staughton is now facing up to six months in jail after admitting animal cruelty at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court.
The lout broke down in tears during the hearing on Tuesday after his internet anonymity was unmasked in the court. “Yes, I bet it’s easy to be a thug & a bully behind an alias!”
Magistrates heard Staughton had been dumped by his lover of four-and-a-half years and thrown out of their home following the cruel stunt.
Robert Starr, prosecuting for the RSPCA, asked the bench to order a life-time ban on him keeping pets. He said: ‘The cat would have been very terrified and would have suffered mental and physical effects caused by the cat having no method of escape.
‘The reason why Princess didn’t move when the door was opened is because the incident would have left the cat in sheer terror, unbalanced and disorientated.
‘It left the cat without any of its senses that you would attribute to a cat. ‘This would have been compounded by the fact that it had no means of escape.’ Mr Starr said a vet examined the cat on July 6 and said it would have been disoriented and traumatised by its experience.
The prosecutor added that when Staughton was interviewed he had thought the incident was ‘funny.’ He added: ‘He accepted it was a disgusting thing to do.’ Klare Kennett, spokeswoman for RSPCA Cambridgeshire, yesterday said: ‘This is a horrible thing to do to a cat.
‘The animal will have suffered great trauma and a great deal of panic in that situation. It is totally unacceptable.’
Magistrates were shown the film of the cat, which has been removed from YouTube, being put into the machine as Staughton said it was going for ‘a tumble’. The dryer was then turned on with the cat spinning inside for 12 seconds before Staughton opened the door.
Even after the cat was on its back in the bottom of the machine with its legs in the door and meowing Staughton spun it twice more. “Wonder how funny he thinks it is now, that everyone know’s who is he, what he looks & what he did!”
The RSPCA tracked down Staughton outside a pub in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, following the incident on June 14. The court heard Princess the cat had belonged to Staughton’s former partner of four-and -a-half-years who he has a two-and-a-half-year-old child with.
Magistrates were told Staughton’s relationship had broken down over the incident and he had moved out.“Shame!”
Princess was taken to Wood Green Animal Shelter, in Godmanchester, where she was later re-homed. Staughton, of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the cat and sentence was adjourned for reports.
Kevin Warboys, mitigating, asked for reports on Staughton who suffered ADHD and a conduct disorder. He said: ‘Mr Staughton suffers from conduct disorder which he says means ‘I just do things without thinking.’ “That’s very convenient isn’t it??”
‘The idea arose from the cat often getting into the tumble dryer after it has been used, which my client believes is because it is warm.
‘This case has had a devastating effect on him and he awaits with trepidation the sentencing of the court.‘ “Awww everybody together now…boo hoo!!”
Staughton will be sentenced on November 13.
He could be jailed for up to six months and fined up to £20,000 for animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. “It’s not enough!”
Two men have admitted animal cruelty after an undercover investigation revealed them beating pigs with plastic pipes and a metal bar.
Pigs at Harling Farm were beaten with plastic pipes and a metal bar, a court was told
Geoffrey Towell, 54, and James Dove, 27, both from Norfolk, were exposed hitting the animals on Harling Farm in an investigation carried out by animal rights group Animal Equality.
The organisation said Towell, from East Harling, pleaded guilty at Norfolk Magistrates’ Court to five counts of cruelty to pigs and piglets, contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006, by hitting five sows with a plastic pipe – one 35 times – unlawfully killing three pigs by hitting them on the head with a metal bar, and using unnecessary force to handle piglets.
He also admitted one charge of failing to protect pigs from pain and suffering by lifting pigs by the ears and dropping them from waist height.
Dove, from Wymondham, pleaded guilty to two charges of cruelty by hitting sows with a plastic pipe and throwing pigs over a barrier – contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
He also admitted two charges of failing to protect pigs from suffering by lifting them with excessive force, lifting pigs by the ear and leg, dropping them to the ground and kicking them while moving them – contrary to Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Animal Equality said Towell’s defence lawyer, Jamieson Plummer, said “dispatching” of pigs by hitting them with a blunt instrument was not uncommon, but said his client was “ashamed” at the way it had been carried out.
The case was adjourned for sentencing until August 17 so probation reports can be prepared.
Animal Equality spokeswoman Laura Gough said: “We are pleased that the people responsible for the harrowing scenes we documented on this farm, have been brought before the courts for the suffering they inflicted on pigs.
“Although laws are clearly insufficient to protect animals, we consider it’s important to use the little protection animals have to generate a debate on their exploitation. Nothing can erase what these individual animals went through. We maintain that the only way to stop this abuse from happening is to not demand animal products.”
Following a fifth hearing for legal arguments today at Kettering Magistrates Court, District Judge Chinnery ruled that the trial of Bobby and Moira Roberts is to proceed, but delayed until November. The charges relate to video recordings of beatings of Anne the elephant, taken by Animal Defenders International (ADI) investigators at the Bobby Roberts Super Circus winter quarters in Polebrook, in January and February 2011.
Mr and Mrs Roberts have been jointly charged with the following offences, to which they pleaded not guilty at the preliminary hearing of the case on 1 December 2011:
1. Causing the elephant to suffer unnecessarily, by requiring the elephant to be chained to the ground at all times, contrary to section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
2. Failing to take reasonable steps to prevent their employee from causing unnecessary suffering to the elephant, by repeatedly beating it, contrary to section 4(2) of the same Act.
3. Failing to take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of the elephant were met to the extent required by good practice, contrary to section 9 of the same Act.
Following a two-day hearing this week at Corby and Kettering Magistrates Courts, held under reporting restrictions, it was announced today that the case would proceed.
Tim Phillips, Campaign Director ADI: “We are delighted that Anne’s owners will finally face trial over the evidence we provided. This is the first test of the intention of the Animal Welfare Act, 2006, which was that owners can be held responsible for what happens to their animals. The investigation and case have been a daunting financial commitment for ADI, but this is an important case that will affect animals in years to come. We are delighted that it is now proceeding and hope there will be no further delays.“
The private prosecution was commenced by ADI on 18th July 2011 at Northampton Magistrates Court. In November, the CPS took over prosecuting the case.
The Northamptonshire owners of a circus elephant called Anne are to go on trial charged with causing unnecessary suffering.
Bobby and Moira Roberts will go on trial at Corby Magistrates’ Court.
The couple are accused of keeping Anne, a 58-year-old elephant brought fromSri Lankato the Bobby Roberts Super Circus in Peterborough in the 1950s, chained to the ground at all times.
They are also accused of failing to prevent an employee from repeatedly beating Anne.
The pair, of Brook Farm, Oundle, deny causing the elephant unnecessary suffering, failing to take reasonable steps to prevent an employee from causing unnecessary suffering and failing to ensure the elephant’s needs were met.
The charges, brought under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, were originally the focus of a private prosecution by Animal Defenders International (ADI), a worldwide animal welfare organisation, following its undercover investigation and filming between January 21 and February 15.
But ADI’s legal representatives contacted the CPS, asking it to take over the prosecution, and Jan Creamer, ADI’s chief executive, has called it a landmark test case.
Arthritic Anne is now living at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire to see out her days in a 13-acre paddock, with her owners’ consent.
The trial is listed until Friday and will move to Kettering Magistrates’ Court from Tuesday on wards.
The trial has been fixed to take place in June of a pair of circus owners charged with the alleged abuse of Anne the elephant, following allegations from an animal welfare charity.
The trial is now set for June 18 to 22 it was announced at a pre-trial hearing at Corby Magistrates Court. The next review of the case will take place at Wellingborough on May 4.
Husband and wife Bobby and Moira Roberts, owners of Bobby Roberts Super Circus, are charged with offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in relation to the mistreatment of Anne an elephant that was removed from the wild and sold to the circus.
The CPS – Crown Prosecution Service – agreed last year to take on the prosecution of Bobby and Moira Roberts in relation to the alleged mistreatment of the elephant.
The case was originally brought as a private prosecution by the charity Animal Defenders International (ADI), an international animal welfare charity.
The charity, which advocates a complete ban on wild animals in circuses, produced video footage of the animal’s treatment via a surveillance camera installed in a barn in Polebrook, Northamptonshire where the elephant was based during the circus’ winter break.
ADI carried out an investigation into Anne’s welfare at the Roberts circus, in Peterborough during January and February 2011. The charity assembled a private prosecution based on the video evidence. The private prosecution commenced on July 18, 2011 at Northampton Magistrates Court.
The CPS was approached by legal representatives in the case and the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, eventually agreed the CPS would take over and continue legal proceedings, partly as a result of the public outcry over the case.
Mr and Mrs Roberts, who are now entitled to a fair trial says the CPS, are jointly charged with causing the elephant to suffer unnecessarily by requiring the elephant to be chained to the ground at all times. Another charge is failure to take reasonable steps to prevent their employee from causing unnecessary suffering to the elephant by repeatedly beating it.
The couple are also charged with failing to take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of the elephant were met to the extent required by good practice. All the charges are issued contrary to sections from the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Anne is a female elephant, aged 58, originally from Sri Lanka that was sold to The Bobby Roberts Super Circus in the 1950s. Anne was subsequently transferred to Longleat Safari Park in April 2011 with the owners’ consent. The Longleat Safari Park runs the charity The Longleat Charitable Trust that also incorporates the Longleat Elephant Sanctuary Appeal
DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS BLOG - SOME PICTURES & VIDEOS CAN & WILL BE VERY GRAPHIC - SO PLEASE, VIEW THIS BLOG AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
You can find out more about me & this blog by reading "ABOUT THIS BLOG" on the menu (when i finish it) lol
PLEASE NOTE.....
Not all of my posts will be current news, or even about animal abuse! I do like to share other animal news, uplifting stories or videos; some that are funny or just touch the heart!
If I have anything to say on any post, you will see it in bold blue writing. I try to remain a lady, but it's hard to contain my anger & emotions at the some of the stories I post; I don’t have a heart of stone, tears stain many articles I write!
Lastly, my apologies for any errors; I am learning whilst posting, so if you find anything that doesn't work or a broken link, sorry, I'm only human!!!!
ABOUT THESE POSTS
I would just like to make readers aware, that I search for stories on the internet; regards animal abuse etc. I copy stories etc. from the internet; assuming these stories are correct at time of publishing. Having said that, sometimes the press get it wrong! So I just want to add that at the time of me posting a news story, I presume all the facts seem present & correct.
Please note....all people mentioned in this blog, are presumed innocent, until proven otherwise, in a court of law.
Error: Please make sure the Twitter account is public.
Flag Counter Added May 2012
Face Book – Please Take Notice
For anyone wishing to connect to me via my Facebook page...PLEASE NOTE, ONLY PEOPLE I ADD AS ANIMAL ADVOCATES CAN SEE MY WHOLE PAGE...I do this out of respect for those friends I have who do not wish to see graphic images, videos or links of animal abuse!
As 99% of my page is animal related; anyone not in the above group of friends; will only see a limited amount of posts!!
DUE TO ANIMAL HATERS...I WILL ONLY ADD PEOPLE WHO CAN PROVE WHO THEY ARE via Facebook, Wordpress, Twitter etc. & WHO HAVE A GENUINE INTEREST IN ANIMAL WELFARE... i.e. if your Facebook page has absolutely nothing to do with animals, I see no point in joining my page. My Facebook is solely for animal welfare, I am not interested in playing games etc. I don't mean to sound rude but I am not interested in the amount of friends I have, its the quality of those friends that count.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND REQUESTS FOR YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN. I do not want anyone to be upset by graphic images etc.
My aim is to educate & raise awareness to the horrors animals face, at the hands of humans, every day, around the world!!
We can not hope to achieve better laws, to protect animals, unless we unite as one, to speak up for those who are voiceless!!
.
DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS BLOG - SOME PICTURES & VIDEOS CAN & WILL BE VERY GRAPHIC - SO PLEASE, VIEW THIS BLOG AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
STOP ANIMAL ABUSE 
You must be logged in to post a comment.