Circus boss defends use of performing animals
THE Brian Boswell Circus has hit back at activists who used loudhailers and shocking propaganda pamphlets to frighten away patrons.
The loudhailers were used in Cape Town but Eastern Cape animal activists have vowed to hold silent protests outside the circus as it makes its way from Grahamstown to East London.
The activists claim the circus animals are mentally stressed from constant travelling and performing around the country.
Circus co-owner Georgina Boswell said yesterday she had no problem with animal rights activists protesting outside the circus grounds, but it was unacceptable when they used loudhailers and “shocking and misleading” graphic material to scare off customers.
She accused some activist groups of bullying patrons by using pictures sourced from the internet that had nothing to do with the way they ran their circus. According to Boswell, the business was legally compliant and often visited by SPCA officials and vets who inspected the health and welfare of their animals.
Wild animals had also been replaced with domesticated species such as horses, dogs, goats, camels and an alpaca.
Local Farm Animal Centre for Education (Face) animal activists responded yesterday, saying training any animals to perform unnatural tricks and continued, forced movement for 10 months of the year was cruel.
They vowed to keep up a silent protest campaign before each show in Grahamstown and said similar actions had been planned in other Eastern Cape cities.
Speaking to the Dispatch before their first performance in Grahamstown yesterday, Boswell said she had no problem with City of Saints activists protesting.
“They talk about mental anguish, but our animals do not display any of these signs. We do travel year-round, but we alternate the animals. They are well looked after.”
While Boswell, the animals and the 50 people they employ were preparing for their first show, local animal rights activists were counting the hours until they kicked off a series of protests.
Face sanctuary director Jenny Copley-Forster, who is involved in organising the Grahamstown protests, said their tactics were not designed to intimidate patrons. “A silent protest is a dignified and respectful way of showing our solidarity with, and focusing attention on, the incarcerated animals who have no voice.”
She said they liaised with other protest organisers in larger centres and that the groundswell of opinion against animals in circuses was growing. A Face pamphlet states that protest organisers only supported circuses that had no animal performers.
A community mailshot from local SPCA chair Karen Kouari yesterday stated they would monitor the welfare of the animals throughout their stay in Grahamstown. “Although we are opposed to any animal in captivity or being used for entertainment purposes, the SPCA will not be part of the protest [yesterday] due to an instruction from NSPCA head office.” —