Circus is in town

Bobby Roberts Super Circus has arrived, they've been setting up since yesterday afternoon, and it was quite interesting watching them raise the 'big top', no wonder they need so many extra long vehicles. It certainly took a lot of manpower to raise, never mind all the ropes and frame work that goes with it.

I've never been very fond of the circus, due to them keeping and performing with wild animals, and although there are no wild animals performing in this circus, just horses and ponies, I did read a disturbing article in the local newspaper just recently about them saying that the owners are to stand trial in November on three offences of cruelty charges relating to the care of Anne the Sri Lankan Elephant who was part of the circus, it went on to say that the couple are charged with causing the elephant unnecessary suffering, failing to take reasonable steps to prevent an employee from causing unnecessary suffering by beating, and failing to ensure the elephant's needs were met. They have denied all the charges, which include allegedly keeping Anne, who is nearly 60 and was brought from Sri Lanka to the Bobby Roberts Super Circus in Peterborough in the 1950s, chained to the ground at all times.

I do know that you cannot believe everything you read but it just reinforced the 'bad taste' I already had of the circus.

The article did go on to say that Arthritic Anne is now living at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire to see out her days in a 13-acre paddock with her owners' consent, so that was decent of them.