Chipperfield big cats to spend winter in Scotland
Future for lions and tigers confined in circus looks bleak unless action is taken
The two lions and three tigers presented and trained by Thomas Chipperfield, and who have been performed at Peter Jolly’s Circus since last year, are to spend the cold, winter months in Aberdeenshire in Scotland.
Less than 2 weeks ago, ADI President Jan Creamer had warned in The Scotsman that “Scotland risks being the destination for its <England’s> wild animal acts” after it was stated that the outcome to its public consultation on the use of wild animals in circuses had been pushed back to the New Year. Until now, there had been no wild circus animals in the country.
In the same article, a number of welfare concerns at both circuses licensed to perform with wild animals, Peter Jolly’s Circus and Circus Mondao, were revealed by ADI. At Jolly’s these included water for tigers to bathe in being withheld, water not being provided for animals in the pre-performance holding area and snakes allowed to get to an “advanced” state of putrefaction, preventing a post-mortem to determine cause of death.
The Classical Circus Association tried to reassure readers, stating that the circuses had passed inspections and the reports were available on the Defra website, but they omitted to say that these were only published following Freedom of Information requests, such as the one from ADI which had exposed the failings outlined.
It seems difficult to believe that whilst ADI is rescuing lions from circuses in Peru and Colombia, having secured bans there, the future for these big cats looks bleak, unless Scotland, and England – who have fallen behind 28 countries who have taken measures to stop circus suffering – takes action and ends the unpopular and outdated use of wild animals in circuses.
Update: the arrival of the Chipperfield big cats has led to a motion from Aberdeen MSP Kevin Stewart to ban circuses from using wild animals in Scoland!
Take action!
- ADI will be bringing our Stop Circus Suffering campaign to Glasgow on Saturday 15th November, when we will be screening our award-winning film Lion Ark, which charts our rescue of circus animals in Bolivia and how the lives of the animals are transformed.Please spread the word, invite your friends and join filmmakers and rescuers Jan Creamer and Tim Phillips at the Glasgow Film Theatre.
- Help us secure the British circus ban! Sign & share our petition urging the Prime Minister to back the bill to ban wild animal acts
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It’s time that ordinary people took a stand and made politicians and government realise that to some of us at least, animals matter!!
please stop these poor creatures from more suffering
Please ban circuses
we are supposed to be a civilised country who loves animals not a third world country who uses and abuses these poor creatures for entertainment. Speak up for theses voiceless creatures. It does not make any difference if they were born into captivity we could release them from the prison they will endure for life
Make sure these animals are well cared for and set them free from prison.
stop this cruelty
Basta de animales en cautiverio!!
This is outdated and should be resigned to the past
To expect these cats to tolerate a Scottish winter is short-sighted, to say the least. This is nothing but animal abuse and cruelty. Please re-think this, with the animals’ needs and well-being in mind, rather than your convenience.
Stop Lagging behind and Send the precious lives to a sanctuary! How would you like to live your life in a cage!
no to animal abuse
Animals do not belong in circuses! Nothing anyone says can defend this cruel business where animals are kept in cramped conditions, receive harsh training, are dragged up and down the country all in order to give people who don’t care about animals an afternoon of ‘ entertainment’, This is not right in the 21st century!
Unacceptable and shameful Scotland should stop it now
Please do not use animals in the circus. t/hey do not belong there and are not well-cared for.
Stop forcing animals to preform!
disgraceful!!!
Please sign the bill to ban animals in circuses, and as a first world country, take the lead and set an example for other countries. This archaic practice needs to be left in the dark ages now. Cruelty and suffering of sentient creatures is not entertainment.
STOP the beating and exhibition for human “entertainment”.
Please support this bill to stop wild animal acts in the circus ring
It is time to stop holding wild animals captive in appalling environments. Have then moved to a sanctuary for their welfare.
This animal abuse has to stop !!!! Please release these precious animals to live like they should !!!
Please have mercy on the animals and be creative in thinking of a new way to make money!
Just boycott animal circuses. they have no concern at all for the welfare of the animals they imprison and abuse.
I’m obviously getting behind. I thought that Britain had already outlawed the use of animals in circuses. GET WITH IT!! This is not acceptable.
Please end this once and for all! The animal circus has not place in the 21st century!
Please help stop this needless misery and suffering.
Animals in circuses needs to be outlawed in every country in the world – they do not belong in captivity and circuses are notorious for the abusive and mistreatment of these poor animals. I will never attend any circus that uses animals and will protest the use of them until it is completely stopped.
This is a totally barbaric and unacceptable situation!!
Quit acting like a 3rd world country and actually give a darn about a living breathing creature please. You’re better than this.
I never go to circuses with animals.