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Animal rights campaigners angered by use of elephants in circus to visit Skegness
Tuesday, 1.09pm - ANIMAL rights protestors are campaigning against the first use of elephants in circuses in 10 years, by The Great British Circus, due to visit Skegness next week.
The circus is scheduled to perform in Skegness between Wednesday, April 1 and Sunday, April 5, but Animal Defenders International (ADi) and Captive Animals' Protection Society (CAPS) want people to protest at the circus' use of animals.
The circus features three elephants, a group of tigers, lions, camels and zebras, and has caused a media storm, with several people protesting at the Newark event.
Craig Redmond, campaign director for CAPS, said: "Three years ago the government signalled it would ban the use of some animals in circuses but has failed to act yet.
"The Great British Circus shows just why we need to end this practice. As if it is not bad enough to subject lions, tigers, zebras, reindeer and other animals to the confinement and restrictions of a travelling circus, we now see elephants being imported from Germany just to perform in the circus tent."
Jeff Link, communications officer for The Great British Circus, said the animals were not taken from the wild and are bred by circus director Martin Lacey.
He added: "We don't ask the animals to do unnatural tasks, just natural movements and athletic skills on cue. Tigers will leap and elephants will reach up for branches and we are only emulating these skills."
Mr Link explained the Animal Welfare Act 2006/07 means anyone who mistreats animals is liable to prosecution and suggested anyone with concerns should contact the police.
He added: "We have state of the art transport and we do not travel long distances at a time.
"The animals are princes and princesses of the circus and we are not going to harm them and people don't have to have any concerns."
*Information: The Great British Circus, 07947441166.
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Weather for Skegness
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North east
