Anti-circus animal cruelty campaign launched

NGO activists handed out leaflets condemning the practice of using animals in circus acts and spoke to passers-by while a large banner was draped before City Gate. A few feet away, a young man in a tiger costume sat in a make-shift cage – representing the plight of his real life counterparts.

Coalition spokesperson Mary Grace Vella said that the campaign is aimed at raising awareness at how the same circus company (JS Productions) that has been bringing caged animals to perform before Maltese audiences would be doing so again this year.

“The coalition is highly dismayed by the fact that notwithstanding the public’s opposition to the exploitation of animals in circuses, this same company persists year over year to make profit from this form of animal cruelty.”

She hit out at the fact that the authorities seem content with the state of affairs, and urged them to reconsider the stance. Vella added that the coalition fully supports the position adopted by the Directorate of Educational Service on animal show school visits like circuses and dolphinariums during school hours.

“We hope that other entities such as Church Schools and Private Schools, local councils, Clubs, companies and all workplaces make an informed decision when considering organising group activities supporting these cruel shows.”

Instead, the coalition urged them to look into the many other possible activities which can be both environmentally and animal friendly.

“The coalition would also like to welcome the latest plans to establish a permanent animal free circus in Malta which would promote artistic shows rather than acts of animal cruelty,” Vella said.

The coalition announced that it will be holding a “Walk for Animal Rights and Against Animal Circuses” as a “symbolic” protest to the circus’ presence. The coalition invited the public to join the march, expected to be held on 8th December and span from City Gate to the circus area in Floriana.

The march will coincide with the first day of the second batch of shows organised by JS Productions, the company which aims to bring the circus to local audiences.

The production company had filed a judicial protest against the Directorate of Educational Service late last year maintaining that, according to the European report on the importance and dynamics of the theatre and performing arts in an enlarged Europe, circuses were considered a performing art.

It also said the European Parliament also adopted a resolution calling on the European Commission to take the necessary steps to have circuses treated as part of European culture.

The media allowed groups opposed to circuses to say that circuses treated animals badly, something which, the company insisted, was unfounded.

This year, the circus is scheduled to host shows throughout most of December into the first days of January. The animals that will be brought to perform in Malta include bears, lions, tigers, hippos, a Scottish bull, horses, ponies, llama, a camel and various parrots and pelicans.

The company also affirmed that its animals are born and bred within the captivity, and that the Circo Martin family has a long history of caring for circus animals, assisted by vets who certify that the animals are in good health.

The coalition is composed of Moviment Graffiti, Animal Rights’ Group, Ananda Marga, Association for Abandoned Animals, Island Sanctuary, CETFREE, Greenhouse, Alternattiva Demokratika Zghazagh, SOS Animals, St. Francis D’Assisi Foundation, Nature Trust (Malta), SPCA (Malta), Centru Tbexbix, Stray Animal Support Group, Street Cat Rescue, Share Malta, Noah’s Arc, National Cat Society, International Animal Rescue, World Animal Conscience, SDM (Junior College), and Youth Social Action.