Group calls for city’s animal circus visit to be halted

CAMPAIGNERS HAVE spoken of their dismay as an animal circus prepared to roll into a Yorkshire city.

Circus Mondao is set to pitch up on private land at Otley Old Road near Horsforth in the outskirts of Leeds from Wednesday until Sunday, October 8.

The managers of the circus says the llamas, horses and other animals that feature in its shows receive the “highest level of care”. But members of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) campaign group have called for the event’s visit to Leeds to be cancelled.

The group is also planning to stage a protest at the site on the attraction’s opening night.

Peta’s Luke Steele said performing in front of loud crowds caused distress to animals. He also raised concerns that the “close proximity” of the Horsforth site to Leeds Bradford Airport would lead to the animals at Circus Mondao being “subjected to even higher noise levels than usual”.

The MP for Leeds North West, Alex Sobel, called on all landowners to “do the right thing” and stop providing room for animal circuses to operate.

He said: “Life on the road is wholly unsuitable for creatures who need space to roam and pastures to graze.”

Mr Sobel added: “The vast majority of people in the UK oppose the use of animals in circuses.”

Circus Mondao ringmistress Petra Jackson told The Yorkshire Post that all of her animals were in “tip-top condition” and had access to hay and water 24 hours a day, large enclosures and outdoor grazing spaces. She also said the shows featured horses, ponies, llamas and dogs but other animals such as a zebra and two camels travelled with the circus, which is licensed by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

The news comes after the Scottish Parliament said legislation to ban wild animals in travelling circuses must be tightened up.