Take Action for Suffering Elephants in UK

A shocking undercover video released in August 2009 by Animal Defenders International, documented violent and abusive treatment by the Great British Circus to elephants in the show. The video sparked an outcry from the public to ban wild animals from the circus and with the support from the government that was called “crystal clear,” legislation was proposed.

One year later, UK citizens are still waiting for action and ADI has renewed its campaign to get EDM 403 passed.

A story from the ADI website reported that in 2006, the UK government “made a commitment to end the use of wild animals in circuses.” ADI waited until 2009 for action that never materialized. That’s when the activist organization installed a camera into the elephant tent at the circus and recorded the daily lives of the animals.

Their video revealed the elephants were kept in a small pen in a tent most of the time and every night they were chained by a front and back leg which made even small movements almost impossible.

The investigation also showed that the elephants were routinely abused. They were hit in the face with a metal elephant hook, a broom and a pitchfork and one worker painfully twisted an elephant’s tail. The animals were shown to back away and cry out loud when they were mistreated.

The Great British Circus blamed the abuse on one employee and quickly fired him. But the uproar from the public made it impossible for the government to ignore and legislation was proposed – as they did in 2006.

A poll conducted in March 2010, showed that 94.5 percent of the public backs a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.

Soon after that announcement, ADI reported that parliamentarians across all parties agreed to pursue the ban. But the legislation has not moved forward and instead has gotten stuck in debates and inaction.

Animal Defenders International has called for an ACTION ALERT to get EDM 403 Wild Animals in Circuses, back on track and stop the abuse to performing animals.

They are asking supporters to contact their MP (Member of Parliament) and make it clear that EDM 403 must be enacted. The organization has pre-printed postcards that can be obtained at their website or by e-mailing: info@ad-international.org. Postcards and other correspondence may be mailed to – The House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.

ADI works worldwide to stop all forms of cruelty to animals. Their work to stop the abuse of circus animals in the UK is part of a global campaign called Stop Circus Suffering.

The following video is footage from the undercover investigation conducted by Animal Defenders International.

Creative Commons - Angela elephant

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Joe R.

3:01PM PST on Feb 11, 2012

Good article. Thanks.

send a green star

Charles W.

1:44AM PST on Mar 11, 2011

Charge the offeders and leave well enough alone. We don't ban activities because there are a few bad apples.

Mary Jean B.

4:53PM PDT on Aug 8, 2010

Lets not have any animals in the circus. Its a horrible life for them, always caged and moving and being mistreated!

Mervi R.

5:07PM PDT on Aug 4, 2010

I think ALL animals need to be banned from circuses now.

Juan Pablo d.

3:52PM PDT on Aug 4, 2010

Who voted No?

roberto c.

8:54PM PDT on Aug 3, 2010

All i can say is that i HATE circuses animal's suffer a lot and this cruelty must STOP!!!

Elaine W.

8:12AM PDT on Aug 3, 2010

I had no idea that this was still going on in the UK. I thought we had banned all animals from the circus years ago. Can not watch the video I am afraid but I will be sending emails ! I had hoped we were educated a bit better regarding the circus .

Alison A.

2:24PM PDT on Jul 31, 2010

Sadly Carolyn, I do agree with what you have said, EDM's are often put to one side and sometimes ignored.

The only thing with this one though, is that this was about to reach resolution in March 2010, prior to the General Election, A DEFRA consultation concluded that 94.5% of the public supported the ban.

I hope that as so much research (and expense) has already gone into this, that the only step now is to implement to ban, so that is why I think we need to remind our government by sending letters, the ADi postcards ect.that we want to see this through and not give up on these poor abused animals.

Carolyn P.

9:21AM PDT on Jul 31, 2010

I wrote my MP about this last year. My fingers are still crossed that he'll support it, but what do you do to help animals, and get things rectified - EDMs are something, but apparently a devalued form of parliamentary currency - there are over 2500 EDMs before the close of this parliament.
I recently wanted my MPs support for an EDM against the debeaking of chickens. He seems to have little confidence in EDMs and wrote to Sec of State Dept for Environment Food & Rural Affairs who replied having placed greater reliance on the advice of the Farm Welfare Council than that of Compassion in World Farming - so the slicing off of chicks' beaks with a hot blade or infrared will sadly continue. What a sorry short little life some chickens have.
We must keep on trying and pressuring the powers though to help all animals in trouble from other 'humans'.

Heather M.

11:17PM PDT on Jul 30, 2010

Cirque Du Soleil has shown us that we do not need animals to be entertained - they are millions of talented people who enjoy preforming.