CIRCUS DROPS ANIMAL ACTS AFTER PUBLIC STAY AWAY
Circus owner Kenny Darnell said his decision was made for strictly commercial reason / GETTYSunday February 5,2012
By Ted Jeory
Paulo’s Circus had attracted protests from animal rights activists but owner Kenny Darnell said his decision was made for strictly commercial reasons.
His circus had been using animals for decades until the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001. It then had only human performers, like the majority of modern circuses.
However, last year Mr Darnell began using horses and ponies in acts to see if it would improve business.
“There was no difference in takings,” he said, and added: “There’s a lot of hassle having them. When you have animals, you have to have other tents, you have to have hay and straw delivered, you have to have sawdust for the ring.
“There are extra costs for us in looking after them, making sure the sites have got water and enough space in their compounds. When you’ve got all humans you don’t have to worry about those sorts of things.
“When we put animals back in last year it shocked some of our customers, so we’re now making it clear we don’t have them any more. We had animal rights protests but that wasn’t part of our decision.”
Amid outrage over the maltreatment of Anne the elephant at the Bobby Roberts Circus last year, MPs voted unanimously to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.
They demanded the Department for Food and Rural Affairs introduce legislation by this summer.
However, Defra has so far refused, saying it intends only to design a “tough new licensing regime”.
His circus had been using animals for decades until the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001. It then had only human performers, like the majority of modern circuses.
However, last year Mr Darnell began using horses and ponies in acts to see if it would improve business.
“There was no difference in takings,” he said, and added: “There’s a lot of hassle having them. When you have animals, you have to have other tents, you have to have hay and straw delivered, you have to have sawdust for the ring.
“There are extra costs for us in looking after them, making sure the sites have got water and enough space in their compounds. When you’ve got all humans you don’t have to worry about those sorts of things.
“When we put animals back in last year it shocked some of our customers, so we’re now making it clear we don’t have them any more. We had animal rights protests but that wasn’t part of our decision.”
Amid outrage over the maltreatment of Anne the elephant at the Bobby Roberts Circus last year, MPs voted unanimously to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.
They demanded the Department for Food and Rural Affairs introduce legislation by this summer.
However, Defra has so far refused, saying it intends only to design a “tough new licensing regime”.
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