THE BALLOON MAN

‘Let Sonny and Cher go’

‘March 21 2011
NATASHA PRINCE Staff Reporter from: capeargus.co.za
IN THE glare of the spotlight, Chuck Norris, MacGyver, Sonny and Cher strutted their stuff.
Chuck and MacGyver, two camels, and poodles Sonny and Cher were among the animal performers at the McClaren Circus in Diep River last night – but while their antics enthralled the audience, animal rights activists protested outside McClaren’s tent.
The circus played to an audience of 300 at Westcott Primary School’s sports grounds last night.
Outside the tent, a group of about 40 animal rights activisits affiliated with the NGO Beauty Without Cruelty staged a silent protest, holding aloft placards and handing out pamphlets that explained their objections to animals being used as circus performers.
Activists said they were not opposed to circuses, but preferred those which used only human performers.
The group’s Toni Brockhoven said: “We’re not questioning how well (the animals are) looked after – we’re just unhappy that they have to spend their days in cages and that they are denied a natural life.”
Brockhoven said that some people who were heading to the circus had turned away after seeing the posters and the placards.
Circus ringmaster David McLaren said the protesters were sabotaging his business.
McLaren, who said he and a colleague were licensed animal trainers, said: “We are complying (with regulations). We have our nature conservation permits.”
McLaren said that whenever the circus came to Cape Town they were hounded by animal rights groups.
“I always have to explain to them that we respect and understand their rights… but they can’t generalise and say all circuses are the same,” he said.
“But we are a traditional animal circus – animals are what we are associated with. If you don’t like U2, you don’t go to a U2 concert and protest outside the stadium,” he added.

Show's rebuttal
Hi Danni
I promised to send you a report of the demo.
We counted 32 protesters. We sold 520 tickets for Sunday 3pmBy-laws do not allow us to play on a Sunday night.
It is obvious who phoned the newspaper (not us) and how biasedthey are in this report
What a weak and misleading headline - "Let Sony & Cher go" oh pleaseSony and Cher are our little poodle dogs.
Also said is that the white lions and tigers performed - wrong these animalsare for show only. Only lionesses Sable and Sahara of the cats perform.
Also twice said show was on last night. No show was on last night (Sunday).I was at the site yesterday when an afternoon 3pm show was held only. Thisreporter must have been dreaming.
Also saw McLaren spelt wrong. more than once.
The protesters were very well behaved because we outnumberedthem and had requested the police's prescence.
Anyway it is free publicity.
Denzil McLaren