Animal rights activists descend on Bobby Roberts Super Circus to protest over the treatment of Anne the elephant

Sep 8 2010 by Kate Forrester, Formby Times

Animal rights activists descend on Bobby Roberts Super Circus to protest over the treatment of Anne the elephant

ANIMAL rights demonstrators descended on a circus in Formby to protest about its use of a captive elephant.

The group held placards outside the entrance to Bobby Roberts Super Circus on Friday evening in a bid to put pressure on circus chiefs to allow the retirement of Anne, a 58-year-old Indian elephant who travels with the show.

Merseyside-based animal rights activist Shaun Reilly, who was among the protestors, said: “We had quite a lot of demonstrators turn up, so that was very positive.

“We were protesting as part of a national campaign against circuses which is partly organised by local animal rights groups and partly by the Captive Animals’ Protection Society.

“We had people coming up to us to tell us how disgusted they were at the treatment of Anne.

“She has arthritis and seems to be limping more and more badly every time we see her.”

Anne, who is the UK’s oldest elephant, currently lives alone as all her elephant companions have died.

Ruth Hume, who visited the circus on Friday with her daughter and grandchildren, said: “I was shocked when I saw the poor elephant.

“I love circuses and I love animals. I am not an animal rights protester, but I was horrified to see Anne was chained up all the time in a tent.

“My daughter tried to take a picture of her in her living quarters but a member of staff stood in front of her and told her she wasn’t allowed.

“My daughter then asked if that was because they were ashamed of the way Anne is treated, but got no answer.”

The 58-year-old, who lives in Southport, added: “I wasn’t aware it was an animal circus at all and to see her the way she is was absolutely heartbreaking.