08.06.10Activists from SARC have been busy working with the media to discuss the horrors of the Great British Circus From Brighton Magazine: The 'Great British Circus', directed by feisty showman Martin Lacey, and one of the last UK circuses with wild animals, featuring lions, tigers, camels and zebra amongst other animals, has arrived in Dial Post, near Horsham. The visit by Mr Lacey and his entourage generated serious concern amongst members of the general public as well as international wildlife charity the The Born Free Foundation, based in Horsham. Although Horsham District Council does not allow circuses with wild animals on their land, they could not prevent the 'Great British Circus' from setting up at the privately-owned showground. "The use of these species is highly controversial, with the great majority of the public calling for an end to such a spectacle. "Over 94% of those who responded to a recent public consultation organised by the previous Government called for an end to the use of wild animals in circuses" said Will Travers, CEO of the Born Free Foundation. "Mr Lacey, however, remains defiant in the face of such public opinion, belittling and ignoring the justifiable concerns of many worried citizens." The Born Free Foundation has long campaigned for such a ban and has previously acted as an advisor to the Government on this issue. The Foundation firmly believes that a complete ban on the use of wild animals in circuses is the only humane and sensible approach. Travers concluded: "We urge the local people to think very carefully before spending their leisure time and hard-earned money at a circus that uses wild animals. "A trip to such a circus may be a brief moment of fantasy for us but represents just one more day in a lifetime of confinement for the animals involved, with sporadic access to "exercise" cages, repeated transport and lengthy housing in off-view winter quarters. The previous Government and the Liberal Democrats made an unequivocal commitment to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses, in the light of undeniably strong public opinion. We are calling on the new Coalition Government to do the same." The Born Free Foundation is wholly opposed to the use of wild animals in this way and is urging everyone to ensure that this objectionable and outdated practice is consigned to the history books. It is time to bring the curtain down on the animal circus. Full article: http://magazine.brighton.co.uk/Noticeboard/Brighton-News/Local-Outrage-When-Wild-Animal-Circus-Came-To-Sussex/39_111_3160#a
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