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Protest over circus bear
From the archive, first published Wednesday 26th Oct 2005.
A TRADITIONAL circus will pitch its tents in Blackrod this week amid protests over its use of the UK's last performing circus bear.
The arrival of Jolly's Circus, which uses different animals, has brought protests from animal protection campaigners.
But circus bosses say animal rights campaigners are heavily outnumbered by the hundreds of circus lovers who come to see their shows every day.
A spokesman for the circus said: "The campaigners may describe themselves as an 'animal welfare' group. This is a false definition - animal welfare involves working with animal keepers and owners to guarantee conditions - but these politically-based campaigners simply wish to have circuses abolished, even where they only use horses and dogs.
"And although such 'domestic-animal' shows are popular, the public make it clear to us that they love to see the more exotic and unusual animals."
He added: "Jolly's Circus continues to look after its animals with love and care, including Ming the Bear who has been with us since she was a few weeks old and is now a healthy and happy 23."
The Preston-based Captive Animals' Protection Society (CAPS) says the bear is walked into the ring during the show and drinks a bottle of milk before being returned to her cage.
Craig Redmond, campaigns officer for CAPS, said the RSPCA had previously offered a home in a sanctuary for Ming but the circus had so far refused to let her go.
The circus is one of just seven left using animals, and is the only one touring Britain with a bear. Its animals also include camels, a zebra, horses, and snakes.
Mr Redmond said: "Most people are now aware of the miserable lives animals endure in circuses, being moved between sites each week and being confined to inadequate housing."
Jolly's Circus features aerial performances, foot-juggling, wire-walking, knife-throwing, bareback riding, clowns, and fire-eating. There are also llamas, goats, a performing donkey, ducks, geese, a bull, doves, and a troupe of line-dancing mules.
They are assisted by a stilt-walker, juggler and knife-thrower Andrew Wild.
CAPS has urged Blackrod residents to boycott Jolly's Circus when it sets up camp, from Wednesday, by the A6 Chorley Road junction at Blackrod.
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