Sarah-Jane Wild with Not Roy the snakeA visiting circus which includes acts by live animals has prompted a mixed reaction from people in the town.
Peter Jolly's Circus, which held shows for five days on land off New Road in Heage, has become well known for its use of animals in its performances, prompting distaste from animal rights activists around the country.
Campaigners claim it is unnatural for the animals to be kept in captivity and be made to perform, but owner Peter Jolly said the animals were well kept, well treated, and well trained and that the activists were just trying to stir up trouble.
Mr Jolly said: "They say these things but they've never been to the circus to see what it is we do. I'm very open about it.
"We have checks virtually every week. We're not doing anything wrong.
"At the end of the day people vote with their feet, and the amount of positive comments we have about the circus far outweigh the criticisms."
Jolly's Circus, which spent time in Heanor the week before coming to Belper and will move to Alfreton next, uses dogs, horses, llamas, a camel, a zebra, birds, a donkey, a goat, a long-horned cow and several snakes in its acts.
One of the acts involves an 'exotic dance' by some of the animals, in which the zebra walks around the standing camel and llamas.
Mr Jolly said the animals were on stage for no more than five minutes at a time and that they only performed simple tricks which were no different to those performed by other animals in captivity. The animals are put out to graze when they are not in the ring, and only come in when they are needed for the twice daily shows, when they are rewarded with treats when they walk in the right direction or put their front legs onto a low podium.
He added: "If you were cruel to the animals you'd get the completely opposite effect. They would not do what you asked them to."
Craig Redmond, from the Captive Animals Protection Society, said: "Most circuses now feature an all-human cast, removing the need to keep animals confined for long periods and transport them around the country.
"We would encourage people to avoid all animal circuses and wait until one of the many amazing all-human shows arrives in town."
Government body DEFRA has completed recent study which found no evidence that animals used in the circus were better or worse treated than animals in other captive environments.
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