No clowning around as McLaren Circus permit suspended
The McLaren Circus has been issued with a warning after Animal Welfare Act contraventions were identified during an inspection by Cape of Good Hope SPCA officials at their current location in Muizenberg.
CAPE TOWN - The City on Tuesday said it had taken the decision to suspend the permit for the controversial McLaren Circus.
This after the travelling circus was issued with a warning after Animal Welfare Act contraventions were identified during an inspection by Cape of Good Hope SPCA officials at their current location in Muizenberg.
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith on Tuesday said: “The City has been working with the SPCA to find a solution around their concerns related to animal welfare after they issued the Circus with a warning.
“The City has since suspended the Circus’ permit. As a caring City, we are committed to engage with all parties.”
The circus has a number of live animals including poodles, goats, miniature horses, camels, Welsh ponies, Friesian horses, Arabian stallions, pythons, alligators and lions.
About 100 animal rights activists picketed outside the circus at the weekend.
During an inspection on Monday, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA’s chief inspector, Jaco Pieterse, and inspector Jeffrey Mfini found at least six contraventions of the Animal Protection Act.
According to the organisation, the circus management granted them access but would not allow them to take photographs of the cages.
One of the concerns identified was that a female lioness was confined to a compartment to separate her from other lions because of fighting.
“If this is the case, then adequate provision should be made for when the lions fight, and they should be kept separately at all times – to avoid fighting – with all animals being allowed access to sufficient space,” SPCA said.
The SPCA said the animals, particularly the lions and Bengal tigers, must be provided with additional environmental enrichment.
Before the City’s announcement that it was revoking the circus’ permit, McLaren Circus spokesperson Karl Hildebrandt said the concerns raised by the SPCA were resolved the same day.
“We have received this warning, however, it seems that Pieterse has used his role to issue a list of recommendations disguised as a warning. Some points listed on said warning do not represent the cited laws. He has also conveniently cited laws which do not represent the concern.
“These warnings, which we see as recommendations, have already been attended to. We await the SPCA to follow up with an inspection and issue a statement in this regard. Most of these ‘warnings’ were minor concerns that were attended to within a matter of minutes before the end of the day (on Monday),” said Hildebrandt.
Animal rights activist and chairperson of Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC), Toni Brockhoven, said despite the circus’s protestations to the contrary, it was clear that they had not complied with the basics of animal care.
Cape Times