Cruelty case against circus

BRIAN Boswell’s circus is roaring with controversy about the treatment of his performing elephants, but the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) cannot seize the animals until its day in court.

The NSPCA filed a case against Boswell alleging five different violations of the Animal Protection Act in March after activists turned in a cellphone video that captured two of Boswell’s employees hitting the elephants, Ainsley Hay, acting manager of NSPCA’s wildlife unit, said.

The footage, taken in December, was aired on Carte Blanche on Sunday night.

“We’ve always suspected this is the case, but this is finally documented proof,” she said.

Boswell, who also owns the Natal Zoological Gardens and Natal Lion Park, could be fined and lose his animals if found guilty in court, Hay said.

In the meantime, the NSPCA will conduct routine inspections each time the circus puts on a performance but will not ramp up its supervision.

While the NSPCA said it had corresponded with the circus’s lawyers in January, Boswell said he was unaware of any charges that had been filed.

He said the two employees shown allegedly abusing elephants on TV had been removed from their posts. One was fired in December and the other was suspended after Boswell watched the programme on Sunday night, he said.

“I think our animals are very happy and well looked after,” Boswell said. “It’s not in our interest to be cruel or horrible to them. Why would you do that? They are expensive.”