Letters: The elephant in the tent

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Link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/animalrights/story/0,,2047905,00.html#article_continue

 

Letters

The elephant in the tent

 

 

Monday April 2, 2007

The Guardian

 

There are elephants in British circuses (Polly Toynbee, March 30).

Bobby Roberts circus has been " using " Anne, a 54-year-old elephant

from Sri Lanka, for 49 years. Anne is now lame and is unable to

perform tricks. The circus refuses to release her, even to sell her,

to a sanctuary, as they are still making money out of her. They take

her out of her tent for visitors to pay £4 to be photographed with

her. Her two companions died a few years ago, so Anne is without

company. Elephants are intelligent, gentle, gregarious animals,

therefore the circus' treatment of her is cruel and they should allow

her to live out what life she has left among other elephants and with

people who will care for her. There are 200 other animals still in

British circuses. It is time a civilised society put an end to this

inhumane and medieval practice.

 

Naomi Elias

Chesham, Bucks

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Ken Livingstone, during his visit to the new gorilla enclosure at

London Zoo, is reported as saying that " a world city needs a

world-class zoo " (How the Kate Moss of gorillas gave Ziggy the hump,

March 30). Such an outdated attitude fits in well with the outdated

concept of zoos, a place where people pay to gawp at animals in

conditions that are a far cry from their native homes. Perhaps Mayor

Livingstone could move London into the 21st century by adopting the

phrase " a world-class city needs a world-class attitude towards

animals " . That way, he could encourage the phasing out of zoos and

aquariums in the capital and encourage people to experience the varied

and wonderful wildlife that exists naturally in and around the city.

Craig Redmond

Captive Animals' Protection Society