Jollys circus demos October 2005
During a Jolly's circus demo on 30 October two of their workers were arrested, including Sparky the Clown. For more details and pictures click here.
Police attend
as circus protest gets heated
27 October 2005
IT was no laughing matter at the protest, despite this clown’s
appearance.
PEACEFUL protesters were subjected to a torrent of abuse during a
demonstration outside a controversial animal circus.
Animal lovers and animal welfare campaigners from across Manchester
joined forces to hold the protest outside Peter Jolly's circus which
had pitched up on land off Hollin Lane, Middleton.
The campaigners stood next to the entrance gates with banners, handing
out leaflets to those going into the circus. But half an hour before
the show began the protesters were threatened and verbally abused
by circus staff.
Along with being branded "terrorists" and "grave robbers",
coupled with a string of four-letter expletives, one young girl
was subjected to a barrage of abuse when trying to hand leaflets
to a
family.
Police attended the scene to ensure the situation didn’t
escalate and the protestors quietly moved off once the second show
of the
evening started.
Carol White, a member of the Stockport division of the Manchester
Animal Protection, said: "It is unbelievable that we have
been called terrorists for standing outside a circus with a banner
and
handing out leaflets.
" We have not stopped anyone from going into the circus and have
not blocked the entrance. We are not trying to spoil their livelihoods
we just want to make people aware of what happens to circus animals
and hopefully make the circus reconsider what they do."
The circus has attracted criticism for its use of animals over its
35-year history. As well as camels, horses, llamas, snakes, baby
crocodiles, a zebra and a bull, the circus has the last performing
bear in the country, a 23-year-old Canadian black bear called Ming.
He is brought into the ring to drink a bottle of milk during the
show.
And it wasn’t just the protesters who disagreed with the
circus. One group of children who had been to the show were upset
at the
use of animals.
A 13-year-old girl said: "I thought it was horrible. The bear
should be out in the wild not in a circus. I liked the tricks done
by the people but nothing with the animals in."
Her 11-year-old companion said: "I saw them whip the horses
and the bear. I thought it was twisted."
John Bailey of Manchester Animal Protection said: "It is the
time for Ming and all the other animals to be retired to sanctuaries
rather than being dragged around to perform for the public."
A few families did, however, enjoy the circus. Charlene Reynolds
who brought her two young children to the show said: "It was
enjoyable and I didn't see anything cruel going on."
Daughter, Shannon, six, added: "I thought it was really good.
I really liked the snakes. I loved the colour of them."
Her brother Connor, four, added: "I liked all the animals."
The circus owners insist the animals are cared for and treated properly
and that the protests do not put people off going to their shows.
Chris Barltrop, spokesman for Jolly’s, said: "The circus
did not feel that the protesters behaved appropriately. Blocking
the gateway will inevitably lead to friction. If they are going
to protest they should do so without obstruction.
" The circus feels the protesters were provocatively and deliberately
agressive."
Link
to article
Protest over circus bear
26 October 2005
A TRADITIONAL circus will pitch its tents in Blackrod this week amid
protests over its use of the UK's last performing circus bear.
The arrival of Jolly's Circus, which uses different animals, has
brought protests from animal protection campaigners.
But circus bosses say animal rights campaigners are heavily outnumbered
by the hundreds of circus lovers who come to see their shows every
day.
A spokesman for the circus said: "The campaigners may describe
themselves as an 'animal welfare' group. This is a false definition
- animal welfare involves working with animal keepers and owners
to guarantee conditions - but these politically-based campaigners
simply wish to have circuses abolished, even where they only use
horses and dogs.
" And although such 'domestic-animal' shows are popular, the public
make it clear to us that they love to see the more exotic and unusual
animals."
He added: "Jolly's Circus continues to look after its animals
with love and care, including Ming the Bear who has been with us
since she was a few weeks old and is now a healthy and happy 23."
The Preston-based Captive Animals' Protection Society (CAPS) says
the bear is walked into the ring during the show and drinks a bottle
of milk before being returned to her cage.
Craig Redmond, campaigns officer for CAPS, said the RSPCA had previously
offered a home in a sanctuary for Ming but the circus had so far
refused to let her go.
The circus is one of just seven left using animals, and is the only
one touring Britain with a bear. Its animals also include camels,
a zebra, horses, and snakes.
Mr Redmond said: "Most people are now aware of the miserable
lives animals endure in circuses, being moved between sites each
week and being confined to inadequate housing."
Jolly's Circus features aerial performances, foot-juggling, wire-walking,
knife-throwing, bareback riding, clowns, and fire-eating. There are
also llamas, goats, a performing donkey, ducks, geese, a bull, doves,
and a troupe of line-dancing mules.
They are assisted by a stilt-walker, juggler and knife-thrower Andrew
Wild.
CAPS has urged Blackrod residents to boycott Jolly's Circus when
it sets up camp, from Wednesday, by the A6 Chorley Road junction
at Blackrod.
Link
to article
Protesters condemn animal circus
20 October 2005
ANIMAL rights activists are urging residents to boycott a controversial
circus which rolled into town this week.
Peter Jolly's Circus, which has attracted fierce criticism for its
use of animals, pitched up in Middleton on Tuesday.
As well as camels, horses, snakes, mules, llamas, baby crocodiles,
a zebra and a bull, the circus also has the last performing bear
in the country, a 23-year-old Canadian black bear called Ming who
is brought into the ring to drink a bottle of milk during the show.
A number of outraged locals have contacted the Guardian over the
past week and numerous shops in Middleton have refused to display
posters advertising the circus.
But the circus owners insist the animals are cared for properly and
are content.
Marlene Butterworth, 61, from Royton, said: “It is absolutely
diabolical. These animals have been trundled around the country
all their lives in small cages. They must be very stressed out.
“ I do not agree with wild animals being made to perform tricks and
entertain us, they should be in their own environment. What they
are doing is cruel.”
Mavis Heathcote said: “I'm just disgusted. Animals have
just as much right to live as us and should be in their natural
habitat.”
Steven Cliff also feels strongly about the situation. He said: “Animals
should not be used for performing and shouldn't be caged.”
Jolly's has been shrouded in controversy with animal rights campaigners
for many years. According to national animal rights group, the Captive
Animal's Protection Society (CAPS), the RSPCA have previously offered
a home in a sanctuary for Ming but so far the circus has refused
to let her go.
Craig Redmond, campaigns officer for CAPS, said: “Most
people are now aware of the miserable lives animals endure in
circuses,
being moved between sites each week, travelling for most of the
year and being confined to inadequate housing. Then there are
the training
regimes and being made to perform.”
Jim Dobbin MP has been contacted by concerned residents and has vowed
to keep an eye on how the circus operates.
A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “These circuses are transitory
businesses, and we feel that they can't guarantee the standard
of care that the animals are receiving. Even for a domestic cat
movement
is disorientating, but these are wild animals.”
The circus, one of only seven in the country which uses animals,
has been touring for more than 35 years. But the family deny the
accusations made by CAPS and other protestors.
Peter Jolly Snr, 56, who works closely with the animals, said: “I
cannot stand cruelty to animals.
“ Ming has been with us since she was 10 days old. You don't spend
23 years looking after an animal and then mistreat it.
“ People put us on a par with those in Greece who put rings through
the noses of bears and make them dance.
“ We do nothing like that. Ming sits and drinks a bottle of milk. We
don't make her perform tricks. She, and all of the other animals
are a part of our family.”
Circus ringmaster, Peter Jolly Jnr, 31, added: “We don't
travel very far between places and as soon as we arrive at the
next site
the animals are let straight out. We never do any overnight travelling.”
The animals have a large outdoor pen where they graze between performances.
Mr Jolly Snr also showed the Guardian Ming's claws and teeth, proving
that rumours about them being removed are false.
Mr Jolly Snr added: “What we ask is for people to come
and see the show for themselves. If they don't like it then fair
enough,
but the majority of people really enjoy themselves and can see
that we don't mistreat any of our animals.”
The shows are Thursday and Friday at 5pm and 7.30pm, Saturday 2pm
and 5pm and Sunday at 2pm - not 3pm as some of the tickets state.
The circus is situated off the Junction 19 roundabout on the Middleton
side of the M62.
Link to article