“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:-

 

News Link:-http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=2911&ssi=10