A CIRCUS which has been vilified by animal rights campaigners has vehemently defended itself against accusations of abuse.
RSPCA Cymru and Animal Defenders International is calling on the public to boycott a circus with wild animals that is visiting Pwllheli this week.
Circus Mondao, which was in Tywyn last week, is in town until Sunday (10 July).
According to the RSPCA, the complex needs of wild animals can never be adequately met in a circus environment with “regular transport, cramped and bare temporary housing, forced training and performance all unavoidable realities for the animals”.
The RSPCA’s senior scientific officer, specialising in circus animal welfare, Ros Clubb said: “We have major concerns about the welfare of wild animals involved in travelling shows, a concern that is shared by a huge number of others in Wales.
“Circuses will only continue to use wild animals if the public continue to pay to see them.
“Because of their temporary nature, travelling shows will never be able to keep wild animals in a way that provides acceptable standards of welfare.
The claims of abuse are very hurtful for the circus folk, Circus Mondao’s ringmaster said.
Petra Jackson said: “It upsets us when people accuse us of abusing our animals – we class them as family."
See the full story in this week’s Arfon/Dwyfor edition of the Cambrian News