Great British Circus
Encyclopedia
Great British Circus Ltd is a company that specialises in circus
entertainment. Unusually for a UK-based circus company it includes live animals such as tigers, camels horses and ponies in its acts.
, the company's owner and Circus Director defends the company's approach as follows: "The Circus takes veterinary advice from world-respected experts, not from campaign groups who too often seek to excite public sympathy in their quest for donations and support.". Martin Lacey has bred tigers for many years and provided most of the tigers used in the Esso
oil television advertisements up until the 1970s.
In April 2007 the Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)
upheld a complaint against the company's claim that it was "Voted No.1 for Animal Care". In February 2009 The Independent
reported that the company brought performing elephants to a UK circus for the first time in ten years.
was tabled by John Austin
, referring to the introduction of elephants into the circus as follows:
On the following day, another EDM was tabled, by Mark Pritchard, specifically naming the Great British Circus, as follows:
In June 2008 the circus was criticised for the use of adult tigers and cubs.
In August 2009 an undercover investigation secretly filmed a member of the circus staff hitting an elephant with a metal hook. The staff member was subsequently sacked.
secretly looked after animals on its behalf.
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm was subsequently expelled from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(BIAZA) in December 2009: BIAZA noted in a statement that 'The reasons for termination are due to a refusal to provide BIAZA with information when requested and entering into an arrangement with the Great British Circus, which contravenes the Animal Transaction Policy, despite having been warned of possible consequences' and that 'the behaviour of NAZF has brought the association into disrepute' .
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
entertainment. Unusually for a UK-based circus company it includes live animals such as tigers, camels horses and ponies in its acts.
Use of wild animals
Martin LaceyMartin Lacey
Martin Lacey is a circus ringmaster, company director and trainer of wild animals. He trained most of the tigers that were used in the Esso television advertisements in the 1970s-Professional life:...
, the company's owner and Circus Director defends the company's approach as follows: "The Circus takes veterinary advice from world-respected experts, not from campaign groups who too often seek to excite public sympathy in their quest for donations and support.". Martin Lacey has bred tigers for many years and provided most of the tigers used in the Esso
Esso
Esso is an international trade name for ExxonMobil and its related companies. Pronounced , it is derived from the initials of the pre-1911 Standard Oil, and as such became the focus of much litigation and regulatory restriction in the United States. In 1972, it was largely replaced in the U.S. by...
oil television advertisements up until the 1970s.
In April 2007 the Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)
Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)
The Advertising Standards Authority is the self-regulatory organisation of the advertising industry in the United Kingdom. The ASA is a non-statutory organisation and so cannot interpret or enforce legislation. However, its code of advertising practice broadly reflects legislation in many instances...
upheld a complaint against the company's claim that it was "Voted No.1 for Animal Care". In February 2009 The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
reported that the company brought performing elephants to a UK circus for the first time in ten years.
Early Day Motions
On 3 March 2009 an Early Day MotionEarly day motion
An Early Day Motion , in the Westminster system, is a motion, expressed as a single sentence, tabled by Members of Parliament for debate "on an early day" . Controversial EDMs are not signed by Government Ministers, PPS or the Speaker of the House of Commons and very few are debated on the floor...
was tabled by John Austin
John Austin (politician)
John Eric Austin, formerly known as John Austin-Walker, is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Woolwich from 1992 to 1997 and for Erith and Thamesmead from 1997 to 2010.-Early life:...
, referring to the introduction of elephants into the circus as follows:
This motion was signed by 110 MPs.
That this House shares the RSPCA's deep concern at the recent introduction of elephants into a circus in Nottinghamshire; hopes that the public will boycott the circus in protest; believes that the Government should intervene in this case and state categorically that it opposes the use of wild species in circuses; and urges the Government to bring forward proposals to ban the use of wild animals in circuses without further delay.
On the following day, another EDM was tabled, by Mark Pritchard, specifically naming the Great British Circus, as follows:
That this House notes with concern the continuing use of non-domesticated animals in circuses and more recently the re-introduction of elephants by the Great British Circus; is increasingly concerned by the delay of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in reporting on increasing amounts of evidence surrounding poor animal welfare standards in circuses; believes that the report of the Chair of the Circus Working Group fails to provide reliable information on this subject; supports the work of the Captive Animals Protection Society and others in achieving an end to animal use in circuses; and urges the Government to maintain its commitment to ban the use of non-domesticated animals in travelling circuses and to limit the use of domesticated species under a strict, accountable and open licensing system.This motion was signed by 78 MPs.
Protest and Investigations
The company's circus performances have attracted animals rights demonstrations at locations throughout the UK.In June 2008 the circus was criticised for the use of adult tigers and cubs.
In August 2009 an undercover investigation secretly filmed a member of the circus staff hitting an elephant with a metal hook. The staff member was subsequently sacked.
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm
On 19 October 2009 the company was referred to in allegations in a BBC documentary that visitor attraction Noah's Ark Zoo FarmNoah's Ark Zoo Farm
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm is a tourist attraction—a zoo and entertainment centre based around a working farm—in Wraxall, North Somerset, about from Bristol, England. The zoo has won several national awards, including 'Silver' in the Green Tourism Business Scheme and the 'Learning Outside the...
secretly looked after animals on its behalf.
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm was subsequently expelled from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums
British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a conservation, education and scientific wildlife charity. Founded in 1966 within the zoo and aquarium community to see the principles and practices of animal management adopted in the British Isles...
(BIAZA) in December 2009: BIAZA noted in a statement that 'The reasons for termination are due to a refusal to provide BIAZA with information when requested and entering into an arrangement with the Great British Circus, which contravenes the Animal Transaction Policy, despite having been warned of possible consequences' and that 'the behaviour of NAZF has brought the association into disrepute' .