The Circus Animal Rights Coalition, which consists of more than 20 local animal rights organisations, has this evening organised a ‘Walk for Animal Rights and Against Animal Circuses’ to protest to the presence of ‘Circo Martin,’ a circus which uses animal acts during its show. The walk, to which hundreds of people attended, started at around 5pm in Valletta, and will contiune on foot towards the circus area in Floriana. The circus had already spent last weekend presenting it’s show in Gozo.

In a statement given by The Coalition at the start of the march it said that it would like to express its deep disappointment and concern that notwithstanding the public’s opposition to the exploitation of animals in circuses, JS Productions persists year over year to make profit from this form of animal cruelty. During the last years, the Coalition’s campaign has been gathering a lot of support from the public and a good number of people, including children have signed the petition against the use of animals in show business.

“The Circus Animal Rights Coalition was set up to raise awareness of the fact that behind the beautiful facade of the circus lies a cruel world of untold animal suffering. Animals used in circuses are unwilling participants in a show that jeopardizes their health and psychological well- being. Circuses force animals often through painful and punitive methods to perform tricks that are contradictory to their innate instincts and behavior, which factor results in substantial injuries during performance and training. Furthermore, animals in circuses have to sustain long distance traveling to arrive to the performance destination, during which they are often kept in unsuitable and precarious conditions. The climate of the locality area may furthermore be unsuitable for their natural temperament in such a way that they sustain undue suffering. These factors continue to exacerbate the already stressful conditions caused by confinement and transportation, the Group said.

The statement said that even if conditions were improved and humane methods of training were used, the fact is that keeping wild animals in captivity deprives animals of much of what they value in life. The animals have to live in an environment drastically different from their natural habitat, and their spirits are broken from harsh training and from not being able to fulfill some of their most basic needs and instincts.

The Coalition said that, “in view of the above mentioned reasons, we are asking the relevant authorities to refrain from allowing animal circuses from performing in Malta.!

The Coalition said it fully supports the position that has been taken in the last years by the Directorate for Educational Services regarding the proscription of visits for animal shows such as circuses and dolphinariums during school hours. We hope that other entities such as Church Schools and Private Schools, Local Councils, Clubs, companies and all workplaces make an informed decision when considering organizing group activities supporting these cruel shows. Instead, we urge all to look into the many other possible activities which can be both environmentally and animal friendly.

The Coalition concluded by saying it would also like to welcome the latest plans to establish a permanent animal free circus in Malta which would promote artistic shows rather than acts of animal cruelty.”

Circus Animal Rights Coalition

Moviment Graffitti, Animal Rights Group, Ananda Marga, Association for Abandoned Animals, Island Sanctuary, Cetfree, Greenhouse, Alternattiva Demokratika Zaghzagh, SOS Animals, St. Francis D’Assisi Foundation, Nature Trust, SPCA (Malta), Centru Tbexbix, Stray Animal Support Group, Street Cat Rescue, Share Malta, Noah’s Arc, National Cat Society, International Animal Rescue, World Animal Conscience, Youth for Social Action (University of Malta Junior College), SDM Junior College

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