Stop Circus Suffering

ADI has today condemned Jolly’s Circus – one of only two circuses still to perform in Britain with wild animals – after reports that it tethered a mule, without food and water during the recent scorching weather.

Concerns raised by ADI that new wild animal acts could come into the country ahead of the proposed circus ban have been realised after it was reported in the media that a big cat act trained by Thomas Chipperfield is set to perform in a new circus in England.

In March 2011, ADI exposed the terrible cruelty that Anne the elephant was subjected to whilst at the Bobby Roberts Super Circus. As a result of our shocking exposé, the circus owners handed Anne over to Longleat Safari Park – where she remains today – and Bobby Roberts became the first circus owner to be found guilty of offences under the Animal Welfare Act (2006).

ADI has today expressed its profound disappointment that the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA), in their report on the draft Wild Animals in Circuses Bill, suggests that the wild animal ban could be watered down.

ADI reveals that a new lion and tiger act presented by Thomas Chipperfield has joined Jolly’s Circus.

ADI has been calling on the Coalition Government to be more open and transparent concerning the licensing of circuses with wild animals since plans for the unworkable scheme was first introduced.