Controversial elephant circus to arrive in Cavan
A group called ARAN is seeking to prevent the staging of shows by a controversial elephant circus due to stage a performance in Virginia in County Cavan this evening. The group is also urging members of the public to boycott the performances.
‘Circus Belly Wien’ has attracted huge opposition since it arrived in Ireland with shows in Monaghan blocked and protests staged at performances in Mullingar recently. A petition against the circus has been signed by over 1,600 people.
National bans on wild animals in circuses have been imposed in Holland and the circus's native Austria.
ARAN is also urges councillors to introduce and pass a motion to ban animal-act circuses using public land.
A petition of objection to the circus has been opened at Kitten Cottage Curiosity Shop in Virignia.
The circus reports that over 60 animals such elephants, horses and camels are touring.
A statement from ARAN said: 'They tend to walk the worn-out and bewildered elephants on hard concrete roads in order to generate publicity and we fear this will happen here in Cavan too.'
The group highlight the potential danger to members of the public should the animals become 'spooked' and referenced an incident in Cork back in 2012 when an elephane ran 'amok'.
“Because of country bans on using wild animals in circus performances in Austria and Holland, this circus is now using Ireland as a dumping ground for their acts that involve worn out and broken elephants amongst so many other animals,” says local ARAN supporter Laura Boyle.
“Nature never intended for these animals to live such a pitiful existence and to that end I respectfully urge my fellow locals to please take their kids, or indeed themselves, elsewhere, and don’t buy a ticket to this horror show.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the circus told the Celt ahead of the Virginia performances. 'I visited the circus in my hometown and have seen with my own eyes that the animals are treated very well... Animals are treated respectfuly and their shelters are nice and clean!'
See the video below from one of the Mullingar performances.