No wild animals in circus acts

THERE were mixed emotions among patrons, young and old, who attended Brian Boswell’s Circus

at the usual circus site in Durban on Thursday. Nine-year-old Nikolai Govender attended the circus with his family.

He said he enjoyed watching the clowns. His dad, Neil Govender, felt the children were disappointed not to

see lions and elephants. “I attended the circus last year, so not seeing the lions and elephants was not a big deal for me or my son but I think other children who may not have had the opportunity like us were disappointed not to see

them.” THERE were horses, pigs, goats, ponies and dogs, but no wild animals this year to perform tricks at the Brian Boswell’s Circus.

Manager Georgina Boswell said they alternated the acts and the use of wild animals, such as elephants and lions, this year, so patrons made do watching a pig unfurl a carpet, horses gallop around a ring and a dog weave through the legs of a little girl.

Documentary producer and animals rights advocate, Michael Almendro, who has led protests against the use of wild animals in the circus, believes management buckled under pressure to incorporate wild animals into the show this year.

“For the past two years Brian Boswell’s Circus have had elephants and lions in their shows.

“The only reason they chose not to use them this year was because of the undercover footage I filmed last year, which Carte Blanche screened in April, showing their elephants being beaten by its trainers,” said Glenwood-based Almendro.

He said the wild animals in the care of Brian Boswell’s Circus were often seen swaying, an indication they were under distress.

Although the keeper responsible for beating the elephants has since been fired, Boswell denied their animals were ill treated.

“That employee had worked for us for a number of years. We were shocked when we saw the footage of him beating the elephants.

“He was suspended and subsequently fired after an investigation. This was an isolated incident.”

Boswell said if an animal was in distress it would show through its behaviour. “There was no sign they (the elephants) were in distress.”

Circus owner Brian Boswell has since filed a R1-million defamation lawsuit against Almendro for the documentary titled Tigers in Tutus.

The claim was lodged in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

Meanwhile, the manager of the Wildlife Protection Unit at the National Council of SPCAs, Ainsley Hay, said they had laid formal charges of animal cruelty against Brian Boswell’s Circus.

Regardless of the protesting and court action, patrons continue to flock to the circus which will run in Durban until August 4.

Boswell said most of their shows, since opening on June 25, were almost sold out.

“The circus acts must change for people to come back. That is why we try to change the acts and the animals we use every year.”

She said this year they decided to test the market to garner a response from patrons on whether they wanted to see elephants and lions.

“Surveys are done at the end of every show and from the feedback, most people wanted to see these wild animals.”

Brian Boswell’s Circus will be in Pietermaritzburg from August 6 to 11.